Princess Anne
Sri Lanka trip begins – that’s planned
Princess Anne was welcomed by traditional dancers in Sri Lanka.
© ISHARA S. KODIKARA / AFP via Getty Images
Princess Anne has arrived in Sri Lanka for a three-day trip. After landing she was greeted by traditional dancers.
Princess Anne carries her own bags
Both of them carried parts of their luggage off the plane themselves – quite unroyally. Anne was dressed in a white and beige linen pantsuit with a light blue blouse and sporty Adidas glasses – perfect for the humid heat. Laurence wore a beige suit with a white shirt and light blue tie.
This is what is planned for the visit
The Princess Royal and her husband are visiting Sri Lanka to celebrate diplomatic relations between Britain and the island nation. “This visit is the best possible way to celebrate 75 years of diplomatic relations with Sri Lanka,” quotes the Daily Mail diplomat Andrew Patrick, who welcomed Anne and her husband on site. After her arrival, Anne also signed her name in the country’s golden book.
During her three-day visit, Princess Anne will visit local communities and religious groups in the capital Colombo, the inland city of Kandy and Jaffna in the far north of the island, among other places. Patrick speaks of a “historic” visit. It is the first time that a member of the royal family has visited the city of Jaffna.
First visit since 1995
Anne’s last trip to Sri Lanka, which was a British colony under the name Ceylon until 1948, was almost three decades ago. In 1995 she visited the country as patron of Save the Children. King Charles and his wife Queen Camilla (76) as well as Prince William (41) and Princess Kate (42) visited the country in 2013.
It is the royal family’s first trip abroad this year. The King and Queen will visit Canada in May and a trip to Australia, New Zealand and Samoa in October. William and Kate are due to travel to Italy in the spring.