PRINCE Charles arrives in Honiara this evening for his first royal visit to the country.
According to his schedule, the prince and his delegation should touch down at Honiara International Airport at around 8.30pm.
During the visit, Prince Charles will attend a special Church service at the Saint Barnabas Anglican Cathedral on Sunday before meeting the Governor General Sir David Vunagi at Government House where he will administer an Investiture ceremony for a number of local recipients.
After the service, the Royal delegation and government officials and other special invited guest will move on straight down to the Mendana Hotel for lunch.
“His Royal Highness will also make a courtesy visit to Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare at the Prime Minister’s Office before proceeding to lay a wreath in honour of the Solomon Islands Scouts and Coastwatchers’ at the Memorial at Commonwealth Street.”
On the morning of Monday 25th November, His Royal Highness will meet the Speaker of Parliament Patterson Oti before addressing the National Parliament.
He will then make a visit to the Lawson Tama Stadium on 12:00pm where he will be launching the Solomon Islands Ocean Policy and Malaria Elimination Road-map before winding off with a last visit to the FFA at 2:50pm.
“His Royal Highness’s programme will focus on climate change and ocean governance where he will launch ‘Solomon Islands National Ocean Policy’ and the ‘Malaria Elimination Roadmap’at Lawson Tama stadium before visiting the headquarters of the Forum Fisheries Agency.”
The Royal delegation team will then leave for Honiara International Airport for farewell ceremony in the evening.
Prince Charles is the eldest son of Queen Elizabeth II and is currently heir to the British throne.
This will be The Prince of Wales’ first visit to Solomon Islands.
Queen Elizabeth II herself visited Solomon Islands twice – in 1974 and 1982.
Prince William, the Duke of Cambridge and wife Duchess of Cambridge, Kate Middleton visited Solomon Islands in 2012 as part of their Asia tour.
By IAN M.KAUKUI
