Despite wet, British-style weather, the Prince of Wales was greeted warmly Saturday as he touched down in Tortola for his first official visit to the Virgin Islands.
During a whirlwind visit beginning in East End and ending at the Governor’s House in Road Town, Prince Charles viewed damage from Hurricane Irma and thanked residents and foreign volunteers working to help rebuild the territory.
“I hope I’m not ruining your Saturday,” the prince said over the sound of a steel pan band, holding an umbrella against the rain as he spoke with residents.
At the park, he was accompanied by Governor Gus Jaspert, Premier Dr. Orlando Smith, and members of the House of Assembly, and he spoke with volunteers from VI Search and Rescue, Rotary International, Scouts, Girl Guides and other international and local organisations that provided aid during and after Irma.
“Keep up the wonderful work,” he told them.
Mr. Jaspert accompanied the prince on his tour along with MP Penny Mordaunt, secretary of state for the Department for International Trade in the United Kingdom.
“It has been inspiring to see the resilience of our community over these last two months and it was my pleasure to share this and a few stories of the heroic acts since then with His Royal Highness,” Mr. Jaspert said. “It is important that the Virgin Islands, our challenges and our recovery remain at the front of people’s minds around the world.”
The prince’s visit was part of a tour of the wider Caribbean during which he observed the recovery following hurricanes Irma and Maria, beginning with Antigua and Barbuda and continuing on to the VI and Dominica.
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