Sophie inspects medals and speaks to army veteran in Saint Lucia

The Countess of Wessex inspected medals and heard tales from a 100-year-old Commonwealth army veteran on a day of two engagements in Saint Lucia.

Sophie and the Earl of Wessex had been as a consequence of journey to Grenada on Tuesday however the journey to the nation was postponed only a day earlier than they had been as a consequence of start their Caribbean tour.

Talking to Haynes Cyril, the President of the Royal Commonwealth ex-Companies League, the countess heard in regards to the centenarian’s time as a part of the Winward Island Battalion within the Caribbean regiment, which he joined in 1943.

One other veteran sat on the identical desk on the excessive commissioner’s residence, 98-year-old Reginald Cherubin, requested Edward for his identify, to which the earl laughed and replied “Prince Edward”.

Sporting one other floral gown, the countess leant in in the direction of Mr Cyril to look intently at his medals.

The go to got here at a time when the couple had been as a consequence of be in Grenada, however Buckingham Palace launched a word to editors on Thursday which learn: “In session with the federal government of Grenada and on the recommendation of the governor basic, the Earl and Countess of Wessex’s go to to Grenada has been postponed.

“The earl and countess hope to go to at a later date.”

No additional particulars got in regards to the cause for the delay, and the choice got here shortly after the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge had been criticised for some components of their latest Caribbean tour, deemed to hark again to colonial days.

Earlier, anti-monarchy campaigners stated Edward’s “disinterest” in reparations for Caribbean nations was “an insult to Britain as a lot as it’s” to the islands themselves.

Republicans criticised Edward after he gave a nervous snort following remarks from the Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda, who urged him and the Countess of Wessex to make use of their “diplomatic affect” to realize “reparatory justice” for the nation.

The group’s chief govt, Graham Smith accused him of not being “concerned with participating sincerely with these they go to”.

Edward joked that he had not been taking notes throughout Gaston Browne’s opening remarks, so couldn’t reply to all of the factors he had made.