Prince Edward and Sophie, the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, are on their first joint overseas tour of 2025 in Nepal. It is their first time in Nepal. The trip further cements the close bonds between the UK and Nepal and centers on priorities including youth development, healthcare, gender equality, and environmental conservation. The royal couple will also attend the annual attestation parade in Pokhara, where young Nepalese recruits will be welcomed into the British Army. Meeting Nepal’s President and First Lady
They welcomed the Presidency as well and even met First lady Sabita Paudel and President Ram Chandra Paudel when first day arrived Kathmandu the Presidential Palace; Rastrapati Bhawan – On which he reflected during meetings about this debut trip of this Himalayan state.
As part of the formal proceedings, the couple signed the guest book, with a striking photograph of Mount Everest displayed in the background. While signing, Prince Edward admired the image, stating, “that is rather special, isn’t it?” Meanwhile, Sophie playfully remarked, “that’s as close as I’m going to get, sadly… this time.”
For the event, the Duchess chose a classy look. She wore a Mary Katrantzou satin floral dress with teal and gold accents, nude Jimmy Choo heels, and a vintage Matelier bag.
Visit to Maiti Nepal by Sophie
On the second day of the visit, the Duchess of Edinburgh visited Maiti Nepal, an organization well respected in its efforts to support survivors of human trafficking and gender-based violence. This was a historic visit, as the king, at the time Prince of Wales, had also visited the refuge in 1998.
During her visit, Sophie met some Maiti Nepal residents, including Pampha Adhakari and Pusba Thapa. These two fondly remembered meeting the King more than 25 years ago. She responded warmly to them, saying, “That’s beautiful, you’re very clever. I shall give that to him with your love. He’ll be very pleased to get it.”
Founded in 1993 by Anuradha Koirala, Maiti Nepal has been the core rescue/rehabilitation of survivors. King Charles’ earlier visit contributed a lot to its development because later he auctioned one of his paintings in the UK to generate funds to help them expand their facilities.
While walking around the facility, Sophie saw the kitchen facilities and was thrilled to discover that peanut butter was a favorite among the residents. Reminiscing about her childhood, she said, “I used to eat that as a child.”
The Duchess also visited Mother Teresa School within Maiti Nepal, where she witnessed the kids attending music classes and traditional dances and how their creative arts help them in their healing process.
Engagements at Bhaktapur
In the morning, Sophie visited the Maternity Wing of Bhaktapur Hospital and greeted the new mothers, congratulating them on their newborn babies. She later went to Dwarika’s Hotel for a luncheon with women’s rights activists and enjoyed the local Nepali delicacies. As the Duchess of Edinburgh departed from the hotel, the owner’s grandchildren presented her with a bouquet of roses.
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The Duchess of Edinburgh visited Dwarika’s Hotel, and, when leaving, HRH was gifted roses by the owner’s grandchildren
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Meanwhile, Prince Edward interacted with young participants of the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award program. He then visited the UNESCO World Heritage Site in Bhaktapur, which had been greatly damaged during the 2015 earthquake. The Duke was briefed on the restoration efforts since the disaster.
The visit by the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh follows a long history of royal engagements with Nepal. Prince Harry was the last royal to visit in 2016, a year after the devastating earthquake that claimed approximately 9,000 lives. Prior to that, King Charles had visited Nepal in 1998 as Prince of Wales, while his late parents, Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, visited in 1986 and 1961.
