Latest news with #HinduKushHimalayaInnovationChallengeforEntrepreneurs
Yahoo
06-02-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Prince Edward and Sophie hold hands during Nepal tour as they visit spot where late Queen and Prince Philip planted trees
The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh were pictured holding hands and lovingly poking at each other during their trip to Nepal. Prince Edward and his wife Sophie toured the Godawari National Botanic Garden on the outskirts of Kathmandu on the second day of their official royal tour of the Himalayan nation. They held hands as they went down a flight of stone stairs after visiting the site's orchid house, surrounded by views of the Kathmandu Valley. The couple, both 60, had earlier planted a magnolia tree just metres from a pair planted by the late Queen and Prince Philip in 1986. Edward commented on his parents' work, saying: "Gosh, they've done very, very well." The duchess encouraged her husband as he picked up a spade and filled in the hole for the new tree, saying: "Keep going, darling." The pair both laughed as Edward said: "That's the best bit of exercise I've had in ages." Sophie expressed concern at the amount of waste left behind by climbers of Nepal's most famous landmark, Mount Everest, as she asked whether any of the money paid by them to visit the site could be "earmarked for dealing with some of the issues". She said: "People leave everything behind and it has a huge impact." Read more from Sky News: The couple also met the seven finalists of the UK-funded Hindu Kush Himalaya Innovation Challenge for Entrepreneurs, before flying to the lakeside city of Pokhara, where they visited the Gurkha Welfare Trust's welfare centre and met elderly veterans and widows supported by the charity. Ash Kamari Tamang, a 104-year-old resident, was among those who talked to the royals. She moved to the centre in 2011 after the trust stepped in when she was struggling to care for herself. Her husband enlisted in the Gurkhas in 1943 and served with the British Army brigade in Italy before his battalion was disbanded in 1945, and he returned to Nepal and became a farmer. The trust provided him with a pension until died in 2006. The duke asked if the centre was looking after her well, to which she responded: "They must be doing a very good job." The royal couple also spoke to 99-year-old Burma war veteran Bar Bahadur Gurung, who suffered a debilitating hand injury when a Japanese soldier cut his finger with a sword. After hearing his story, the duke told Mr Gurung: "Thank you for what you did. We appreciate it." After a group photograph, Edward said to the veterans and widows who had gathered: "Thank you for what you and your husbands did." Speaking to the charity's staff, he added: "And thank you for everything that you do." It wasn't until 2007 that retiring Gurkhas, or those who had retired since July 1997, were able to enter the UK wider armed forces pension scheme. Before that, some received a pension but it was at a much lower rate and many did not receive a pension at all.
Sky News
06-02-2025
- General
- Sky News
Prince Edward and Sophie hold hands during Nepal tour as they visit spot where late Queen and Prince Philip planted trees
The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh were pictured holding hands and lovingly poking at each other during their trip to Nepal. Prince Edward and his wife Sophie toured the Godawari National Botanic Garden on the outskirts of Kathmandu on the second day of their official royal tour of the Himalayan nation. They held hands as they went down a flight of stone stairs after visiting the site's orchid house, surrounded by views of the Kathmandu Valley. The couple, both 60, had earlier planted a magnolia tree just metres from a pair planted by the late Queen and Prince Philip in 1986. Edward commented on his parents' work, saying: "Gosh, they've done very, very well." The duchess encouraged her husband as he picked up a spade and filled in the hole for the new tree, saying: "Keep going, darling." The pair both laughed as Edward said: "That's the best bit of exercise I've had in ages." Sophie expressed concern at the amount of waste left behind by climbers of Nepal's most famous landmark, Mount Everest, as she asked whether any of the money paid by them to visit the site could be "earmarked for dealing with some of the issues". She said: "People leave everything behind and it has a huge impact." The couple also met the seven finalists of the UK-funded Hindu Kush Himalaya Innovation Challenge for Entrepreneurs, before flying to the lakeside city of Pokhara, where they visited the Gurkha Welfare Trust's welfare centre and met elderly veterans and widows supported by the charity. Ash Kamari Tamang, a 104-year-old resident, was among those who talked to the royals. She moved to the centre in 2011 after the trust stepped in when she was struggling to care for herself. Her husband enlisted in the Gurkhas in 1943 and served with the British Army brigade in Italy before his battalion was disbanded in 1945, and he returned to Nepal and became a farmer. The trust provided him with a pension until died in 2006. The duke asked if the centre was looking after her well, to which she responded: "They must be doing a very good job." The royal couple also spoke to 99-year-old Burma war veteran Bar Bahadur Gurung, who suffered a debilitating hand injury when a Japanese soldier cut his finger with a sword. After hearing his story, the duke told Mr Gurung: "Thank you for what you did. We appreciate it." After a group photograph, Edward said to the veterans and widows who had gathered: "Thank you for what you and your husbands did." Speaking to the charity's staff, he added: "And thank you for everything that you do." It wasn't until 2007 that retiring Gurkhas, or those who had retired since July 1997, were able to enter the UK wider armed forces pension scheme. Before that, some received a pension but it was at a much lower rate and many did not receive a pension at all.
The Independent
06-02-2025
- General
- The Independent
Edward and Sophie joke together and hold hands on tour of Nepali botanic garden
The Duke of Edinburgh joked with his wife as he planted a tree in a Nepali garden, next to two that were planted by his parents almost 40 years ago. Edward and Sophie toured the Godawari National Botanic Garden on the second day of their official royal tour of the Himalayan nation. The couple held hands as they walked down a flight of stone stairs after visiting the site's orchid house, with views over the Kathmandu Valley. Earlier, they joked together while planting a magnolia tree, metres away from a pair planted by the late Queen and Duke of Edinburgh in 1986. The duke said: 'Gosh they've done very, very well,' as he was shown the trees from his parents' previous visit. The duchess encouraged her husband as he picked up a spade and filled in the hole for the new tree, saying: 'Keep going, darling.' The pair both laughed as Edward said: 'That's the best bit of exercise I've had in ages.' They then took it in turns to water the tree, with the duchess saying: 'This is going to make all the difference,' as she picked up the watering can. Sophie later planted a rhododendron with some local children, asking them to look after it for her. The duchess expressed concern about the amount of waste left by climbers on Nepal's most famous landmark, Mount Everest, during the couple's second engagement of the day at the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development's (ICIMOD) Living Mountain Lab. Sophie asked if any of the money paid by people to climb the mountain was 'being earmarked for dealing with some of the issues', saying: ' People leave everything behind and it has a huge impact.' After being told that the average traveller on Everest produces eight kilos of waste, and many would rather pay a government fine than take it with them, the duke said: 'It's difficult because you have to come down very quickly to make room for those coming up so you try to leave as much behind as possible.' Sophie replied: 'But they don't collect it on the way down again.' The duchess went on to say: 'It's a very visible manifestation of human impact, isn't it?' As they toured the site the royals heard about the climate challenges facing Nepal and the Hindu Kush Himalaya. ICIMOD scientists showed the couple how they are developing technologies for climate-resilient agriculture, sustainable land and water that can be applied in the region. The duke and duchess also met the seven finalists of the UK-funded Hindu Kush Himalaya Innovation Challenge for Entrepreneurs.
Yahoo
06-02-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Edward and Sophie joke together and hold hands on tour of Nepali botanic garden
The Duke of Edinburgh joked with his wife as he planted a tree in a Nepali garden, next to two that were planted by his parents almost 40 years ago. Edward and Sophie toured the Godawari National Botanic Garden on the second day of their official royal tour of the Himalayan nation. The couple held hands as they walked down a flight of stone stairs after visiting the site's orchid house, with views over the Kathmandu Valley. Earlier, they joked together while planting a magnolia tree, metres away from a pair planted by the late Queen and Duke of Edinburgh in 1986. The duke said: 'Gosh they've done very, very well,' as he was shown the trees from his parents' previous visit. The duchess encouraged her husband as he picked up a spade and filled in the hole for the new tree, saying: 'Keep going, darling.' The pair both laughed as Edward said: 'That's the best bit of exercise I've had in ages.' They then took it in turns to water the tree, with the duchess saying: 'This is going to make all the difference,' as she picked up the watering can. Sophie later planted a rhododendron with some local children, asking them to look after it for her. The duchess expressed concern about the amount of waste left by climbers on Nepal's most famous landmark, Mount Everest, during the couple's second engagement of the day at the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development's (ICIMOD) Living Mountain Lab. Sophie asked if any of the money paid by people to climb the mountain was 'being earmarked for dealing with some of the issues', saying: 'People leave everything behind and it has a huge impact.' After being told that the average traveller on Everest produces eight kilos of waste, and many would rather pay a government fine than take it with them, the duke said: 'It's difficult because you have to come down very quickly to make room for those coming up so you try to leave as much behind as possible.' Sophie replied: 'But they don't collect it on the way down again.' The duchess went on to say: 'It's a very visible manifestation of human impact, isn't it?' As they toured the site the royals heard about the climate challenges facing Nepal and the Hindu Kush Himalaya. ICIMOD scientists showed the couple how they are developing technologies for climate-resilient agriculture, sustainable land and water that can be applied in the region. The duke and duchess also met the seven finalists of the UK-funded Hindu Kush Himalaya Innovation Challenge for Entrepreneurs.
