Yesterday, Prince Harry made a dashing arrival in the Bahamas to represent his grandmother for the first time, leaving with an impressive new following of female admirers.
As he undertook his first engagement, cheers and screams greeted 27-year-old Harry, who donned the No. 1 Tropical Dress of The Blues and Royals, marking his inaugural public appearance in the uniform.
Though he’s affiliated with the Army Air Corps and has recently qualified as an Apache helicopter pilot, the prince remains an official member of the Household Cavalry regiment.
The prince’s attire featured a white tunic complemented by lightweight blue twill trousers, adorned with the cavalry’s characteristic red stripe along the side. Instead of the forage cap, he wore the light blue beret representative of the Army Air Corps.
A gold sash encircled his torso, from which his ceremonial sword hung at the front while a cartouche was positioned at the back, traditionally used for carrying messages.
Later that day, Harry addressed the public, conveying a message from the Queen to the people of the Bahamas.
He remarked: ‘I stand before you with a profound sense of pride in being entrusted to share a message of good wishes from The Queen on her Diamond Jubilee.
‘The Bahamas is cherished by Her Majesty. Her affection for this realm and for you, the Bahamian people, has endured over the decades since her first visit in 1966.’
He added: ‘I eagerly anticipate the next 24 hours and the opportunity to discover more and connect with the wonderful people of these breathtaking islands. I hope this marks the beginning of many visits for me.
‘I will certainly be sharing tales of this experience with my brother and sister-in-law when I return home.
‘To conclude, I would like to quote your own motto, which so beautifully reflects The Queen’s remarkable life-long dedication to service and community: ‘Forward, Upward, Onward, Together.’
As his visit came to a close, Harry took time to greet well-wishers with handshakes and high fives during a brief walkabout.
This engagement marks the prince’s first week-long foreign tour representing The Queen in honor of her Diamond Jubilee.
Beginning in Belize last Friday, Harry’s itinerary includes Jamaica later this week.
Following that, he will head to Brazil to assist in launching a government trade initiative in Rio, taking on duties that would typically have belonged to his uncle, Prince Andrew, who had to resign from his UK industry role last year after a series of missteps.
Despite the serious undertones of the tour, the jovial prince has enthusiastically engaged in activities with his characteristic vigor.
While in Belize, he enjoyed rum punch and danced with dignitaries, including the Governor-General of the Queen, gaining a host of local fans.
However, yesterday, Harry presented a more formal demeanor as he visited Government House in Nassau to pay respects on behalf of his grandmother to the Bahamas’ Governor-General, the Prime Minister, and other cabinet members.
At the striking pink-painted residence, where his late great-great uncle, the Duke of Windsor, lived during the Second World War while serving as Governor-General, Harry effortlessly chatted about his family.
When asked about his grandfather, the Duke of Edinburgh, who was photographed carriage driving just eight weeks after heart surgery, the prince shared how his recovery had amazed them all and conveyed that he had expressed明确There was no desire on his part to decrease his pace.
He remarked, ‘Now that he has regained a burst of energy, he is continuing to do everything possible.’
Additionally, he exchanged gifts—giving out personalized photographs of himself to commemorate the event, while receiving a painting of a fish for the Queen and a ceramic turtle sculpture for himself.
Following this, he participated in a morning prayer service at Christ Church Cathedral in the city center, which featured a thanksgiving for Her Majesty’s Diamond Jubilee.
Members of the local community prominent in their fields made up the congregation.
Among those present was a star-struck Miss Bahamas, Anastagia Pierre, 23, who exclaimed: ‘I came here to fall in love with Prince Harry….he’s hot! He is single now, so would I marry him, yes!’
Miss Pierre, who works as a model and broadcaster and recently participated in the Miss Universe competition, commented: ‘I am captivated by the Royal Family; I have seen every interview that Princess Diana has conducted.’
‘There’s immense respect for the Royal Family here, and we are incredibly thrilled that Prince Harry has come to visit us. It’s all over the television.’
As the service wrapped up, he ventured into the streets to greet hundreds of onlookers waiting outside the cathedral.
The prince also gave his first speech during this whistle-stop tour at an exhibition that celebrated the life of the Queen and her enduring connections to the islands.
His plans also included a reunion with India Hicks, his late mother’s bridesmaid, who now resides in the Bahamas.
Prince Harry appeared quite at ease as he hopped into a golf buggy for a lively ride around the charming Bahamian retreat of Harbour Island.
The picturesque mile-long island was part of his quick tour highlighting the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.
He arrived via a Royal Bahamian Defence Force ‘go fast’ boat after engaging in a maritime security drill.
Sadly, the Prince’s boat experienced technical difficulties along the way, yet he still managed to reach his destination in time for the tour.
Harbour Island, a getaway for affluent Americans adorned with expensive clapperboard homes and luxury yachts, was bustling with both locals and tourists for the occasion.
From the moment he set foot on the island, the prince was surrounded by enthusiastic well-wishers, especially attractive young women in bikinis rushing to blow kisses and call out his name.
After a brief stroll along the quayside, he climbed aboard his buggy, which had been decorated with bougainvillea, leading a fun, chaotic dash through the winding streets of the harborside.
He smiled and waved as a local shouted: ‘Like what you do man.’
While the islanders clearly relished the opportunity to see Harry, they expressed disappointment when it became evident that his procession wouldn’t stop to allow him to interact with locals as anticipated.
‘He doesn’t want to leave,’ yelled Kippy Johnson, 30, as the Prince returned to his boat. ‘They are rushing him, man.’
After the Prince departed, he remarked: ‘It’s shocking. He merely hopped into the golf cart for a brief two-minute ride around the block. It’s far too short for someone like him visiting Harbour Island for the first time.’
‘He is cool. He is fantastic. But I wish we had him for a longer time.’
The Bahamas is a commonwealth nation comprising over 3,000 islands, cays, and islets located in the Atlantic Ocean, just north of Cuba and 200 miles south of Florida.
In 1718, it became a Crown Colony when the British entered the region to address piracy.
After the American War of Independence, many pro-British loyalists and enslaved Africans relocated to the Bahamas and established a plantation economy.
The abolition of the slave trade occurred in the British Empire in 1807, and many Africans freed from slave ships by the Royal Navy were settled in the Bahamas during the 19th century, with their descendants now making up the majority of the population.
The islands achieved self-governance in 1964 and gained full independence from Britain in 1973, although the Queen remains a beloved head of state.
by Debbie Dot
