Dressed in a flowing white headscarf, the Duchess of Cornwall went barefoot as she joined the Prince of Wales on a visit to Al Azhar Mosque in Cairo on the third day of their tour of the Middle East.
Prince Charles and Camilla arrived in Egypt today for the next leg of their four-day visit after departing from Jordan earlier this morning.
They started their day by meeting the President of Egypt, Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, and the First Lady, Entissar Amer, at Al-Ittahadiya Palace in Cairo.
Looking elegant in a cool tunic and trousers, Camilla, 74, swapped her earlier blue and white dress for the Anna Valentine ensemble as she arrived with her equally sophisticated husband, Charles, 73.
The royal couple will spend the next day and a half in the capital, with the highlight of their visit a trip to see the pyramids, naturally.
Dressed in a flowing white headscarf, the Duchess of Cornwall went barefoot as she joined the Prince of Wales (pictured together, left) on a visit to Al Azhar Mosque in Cairo on the third day of their tour of the Middle East
The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall meet the President of Egypt, Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, and the First Lady, Entissar Amer, at Al-Ittahadiya Palace in Cairo
The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall arrive at Cairo Airport in Egypt from Jordan, on the third day of their tour of the Middle East
As they stepped off their official government plane, the Prince and the Duchess were greeted by Gareth Bayley OBE, Her Majesty’s Ambassador to Egypt, and his wife, Sara Fawcett.
The couple spent the past two days touring Jordan and the prince ended their time in the country by praising UK-Jordan relations in a speech marking the 100th anniversary of the founding of the nation.
The prince said Britain’s former protectorate was a voice of ‘moderation, understanding and tolerance’ in the region under the leadership of King Abdullah II.
Last night Charles and Camilla enjoyed their final public engagement in Jordan, where they spent the first two days of their trip.
The Prince evoked the spirit of Lawrence of Arabia in an address celebrating Jordan’s centenary at the Jordan Museum in Amman.
He described how ‘British soldiers fighting side by side with their Arab partners, laid the foundation for the eventual establishment of the Jordanian state.’
He hailed Jordan’s ‘unflinching and generous hospitality’ saying ‘it offers not just safe haven for refugees but – through education – hope and opportunity for the future’.
The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall walk across the courtyard of the Al Azhar Mosque, pictured left. Camilla donned a white headscarf during the visit, pictured right
The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall are all smiles as they meet the President of Egypt, Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, and the First Lady, Entissar Amer, at Al-Ittahadiya Palace in Cairo
Walking the red carpet! Charles appeared dapper in a light suit teamed with a blue tie when arriving to meet the President of Egypt, alongside an equally cool Camilla
Greetings from Cairo! Prince Charles receives a formal welcome at the Al-Ittihadiyah Palace from Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi
The Prince of Wales (centre left) during a meeting with the President of Egypt, Abdel Fattah el-Sisi (centre right), at Al-Ittahadiya Palace in Cairo, during the third day of his tour of the Middle East
All in the details: Looking typically stylish, the Duchess of Cornwall (pictured left, with Prince Charles) teamed her elegant pink tunic and trousers with a fashionable handbag
Charles and Camilla, wearing an elegant white tunic and trousers by Anna Valentine, were greeted at the Jordan Museum by the Hejaz railway carriage which was targeted by Lawrence when he led a rebellion against the Ottoman Empire.
They were treated to a short musical performance from the Mahali Musical Production and viewed the Rejuvenation and Modernisation of Extinct Arts and Crafts (RMEAC) pop-up art exhibition. The couple also viewed The Dead Sea scrolls which are on display at the museum.
In his keynote speech, Charles said: ‘Your Royal Highnesses, Your Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen – I did just want to begin by thanking you most warmly for having invited my wife and myself to join you for this very special celebration.
‘I first visited this most friendly and special of countries some thirty-six years ago and have been drawn back time and time again by the remarkable generosity, hospitality and courteousness for which Jordan is rightly famed. As the Jordanian poet Haidar Mahmoud has written.’
The Prince then spoke in Arabic saying: ‘It suffices my country that it was founded on the basis of love.’
He received a generous round of applause for his efforts from the more than 50 guests including embassy staff and Jordanian royal family.
Looking elegant in a cool tunic and trousers, Camilla (pictured arriving with her husband), 74, swapped her earlier blue and white dress for the Anna Valentine ensemble as she arrived in Cairo with her equally sophisticated husband, Prince Charles, 73
The royal couple (pictured left) will spend the next day and a half in the capital, with the highlight of their visit a trip to see the pyramids, naturally
As they stepped off their official government plane, the Prince and the Duchess were greeted by Gareth Bayley OBE, Her Majesty’s Ambassador to Egypt, and his wife, Sara Fawcett (pictured)
The Prince of Wales and President Sisi will take part in a private bilateral meeting. Pictured, the Prince of Wales and Camilla as they arrive
The couple (pictured) spent the past two days touring Jordan and the prince ended their time in the country by praising UK-Jordan relations in a speech marking the 100th anniversary of the founding of the nation
The prince (pictured with Camilla) said Britain’s former protectorate was a voice of ‘moderation, understanding and tolerance’ in the region under the leadership of King Abdullah II
The prince joked: ‘Having massacred wonders of Arabic language.. To be here with you this year is especially significant.
‘After the sorrow, separation, and grief, which Covid 19 as brought us all, it is with that special joy of being once again among friends that we have begun our first overseas tour in nearly two years. That we should do so here in Jordan, to join you in celebrating the centenary year of Jordan’s founding, means more to us than I can possibly say.’
The Prince and Duchess have been sent to the region by the UK government to strengthen bi-lateral relations and highlight issues around climate change and political, cultural economic links.
In Egypt, highlights of the two-day visit include a UK-Egypt reception overlooking the pyramids at the Giza Plateau to celebrate the bond between the two countries, and a tour of the ancient city of Alexandria.
Charles and Camilla will also visit Cairo’s Grand Imam of al-Azhar to discuss with the religious leader and a group of young scholars religious tolerance and the role of faith in stewarding the environment.
Chris Fitzgerald, deputy private secretary to the prince, said when the tour was first announced climate change would be one of the main themes of the visit, and other issues would include inter-faith dialogue, female empowerment and efforts to preserve cultural heritage.
The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall at Queen Alia International Airport before departing Jordan to fly to Egypt, on the third day of their tour of the Middle East
Prince Charles, 73, and Camilla, 74, (pictured departing Jordan) have spent the past two days touring Jordan and the prince ended their time in the country by praising UK-Jordan relations in a speech marking the 100th anniversary of the founding of the nation
The prince (pictured at Queen Alia International Airport) said Britain’s former protectorate was a voice of ‘moderation, understanding and tolerance’ in the region under the leadership of King Abdullah II
In Egypt, highlights of the two-day visit include a UK-Egypt reception overlooking the pyramids at the Giza Plateau to celebrate the bond between the two countries, and a tour of the ancient city of Alexandria. Pictured, Prince Charles (left) and Camilla (seen together, right) leaving Jordan
Charles and Camilla (pictured arriving at the airport) will also visit Cairo’s Grand Imam of al-Azhar to discuss with the religious leader and a group of young scholars religious tolerance and the role of faith in stewarding the environment
Chris Fitzgerald, deputy private secretary to the prince (pictured arriving at the airport with Camilla), said when the tour was first announced climate change would be one of the main themes of the visit, and other issues would include inter-faith dialogue, female empowerment and efforts to preserve cultural heritage
The honour guard wait the arrival of the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall at Queen Alia International Airport before their departure of Jordan to fly to Egypt
Yesterday, Prince Charles reassured the public over the Queen’s health during his visit to Jordan, saying: ‘She’s all right, thank you very much,’ after he was asked about his mother. Pictured, the honour guard wait the arrival of the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall at Queen Alia International Airport
Mr Fitzgerald said: ‘Their royal highnesses’ visit to Egypt comes as the UK holds the Cop presidency and Egypt has been nominated to assume the Cop27 presidency in 2022.
‘In this decisive decade for climate action, the next 12 months is therefore expected to see a significant co-operation between the UK and Egypt. Indeed, both visits will have a major focus on addressing the climate crisis.’
Yesterday, Prince Charles reassured the public over the Queen’s health during his visit to Jordan, saying: ‘She’s all right, thank you very much,’ after he was asked about his mother.
He replied, making reference to his birthday last Sunday: ‘Once you get to 95, it’s not quite as easy as it used to be. It’s bad enough at 73!’
The Queen was seen yesterday conducting her first in-person engagement following her recent health issues – and was almost upstaged by her dog.
She stood up to greet Sir Nick Carter, the outgoing Chief of Defence Staff, at Windsor Castle but was beaten to him by her inquisitive dorgi Candy, who trotted up to the door to say hello first.
The Prince of Wales, 73 and the Duchess of Cornwall, 74, attended a Centenary Celebration of the founding of the Jordanian state at the Jordan Museum in Amman, on the second day of their tour of the Middle East this evening
The couple, pictured, made a striking pair as they arrived last night. The Duchess of Cornwall accessorised with a gold clutch bag
The monarch 95 – dressed in a green, orange and white floral dress and wearing a string of pearls – was pictured standing as she greeted to Gen Sir Nick in Windsor’s Oak Room yesterday
‘Hello you!’ a smiling Sir Nick said to the corgi-dachshund cross. The Queen, who stood unaided, had held her previous face-to-face engagement on October 19 – a reception for tech and business leaders – the day before she spent a night in hospital having tests.
She has since been forced to cancel all official public engagements on her doctors’ advice and undertaken only light, desk-based duties. Although she has carried out a handful of audiences, they have been by video link or over the telephone.
She had hoped to attend the Remembrance Sunday event at the Cenotaph but was forced to pull out at the last minute after spraining her back. Doctors felt it would be too painful for her to be driven from Windsor to London and stand for up to an hour on the Foreign and Commonwealth Office balcony.
In footage of yesterday’s meeting, the Queen appeared slightly frailer than usual, but otherwise in fine spirits. Wearing a floral patterned dress and a pearl necklace, she warmly greeted Sir Nick as he relinquished his position.
‘Good morning,’ she said. ‘Well it’s rather sad…’ Sir Nick explained he had spent eight years as Chief of Defence Staff, the professional head of the armed forces. ‘It’s a long time,’ the Queen said. Sir Nick said: ‘Yes it is a long time. In fact the only person who has done longer, I am told, is Lord Mountbatten.’
The Queen replied, in what some see as a metaphor for her own 69 years on the throne: ‘Oh really, oh. I suppose if you get into that job, you know, it’s easier to continue, isn’t it, really?’
Sir Nick said: ‘Yes, that’s right, although I have to say I think the time comes when it’s ready to move on and do other things.’
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