Prince Harry praises Gorkha soldiers on Nepal visit

Prince Harry arrived here on Saturday on his maiden visit to Nepal to mark the 200th anniversary of the bilateral ties and called on Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli to discuss cooperation between the two nations.

Leading a 30-member delegation, Harry landed at the Tribhuvan International Airport on a Qatar Airways flight from Doha this afternoon, representing the British government to mark the 200th anniversary of Nepal-Britain relations.

The 31-year-old, accompanied by British minister of state for foreign and Commonwealth office Hugo Swire, was welcomed by minister of state for federal affairs and local development Kunti Kumari Shahi. His five-day trip is aimed at supporting British interests in the region, according to a release by the UK embassy here. This is the first time Harry is visiting Nepal. Queen Elizabeth had visited Nepal in 1961 and 1986. Prince Charles, late Princess Diana and Prince Philip have also visited Nepal.

Harry called on Mr Oli at his residence in Baluwatar and discussed Nepal-Britain bilateral cooperation. During his meeting with Oli, Harry praised the role played by Gorkha soldiers in the British Army and inquired about the conservation efforts made by Nepal in protecting endangered wild animals, including tiger and one-horned rhino.

“I am so grateful that I will have the opportunity to pay tribute to some of Nepal’s most famous ambassadors, the Gorkhas, admired the world over for their fearsome bravery and courage but also for their humility and kindness,” Harry said. He said Nepal holds a “special place in the imagination for so many people”.