Queen Elizabeth II began her Golden Jubilee tour of Commonwealth countries on Sunday with a visit to Jamaica accompanied by the Duke of Edinburgh. The trip to the Caribbean island is the Queen’s first official engagement abroad since the death of her sister Princess Margaret ten days ago.
A 21-gun salute greeted the monarch and her husband as they were met by Governor General Sir Howard Cooke and Prime Minister Percival Patterson upon arrival at Norman Manley Airport. Hundreds of well-wishers lined the streets of Kingston to catch a glimpse of the Queen and Prince Philip as they launched a two-day tour of the country with an inspection of Jamaican troops.
The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh also laid a wreath at National Heroes Park, where they met with Jamaican war veterans, including 108-year-old Eugent Clarke, a survivor of the battle of the Somme in World War I. Eugent said: “I am so proud because I never thought that I could see the Queen.”
Queen Elizabeth II is due to continue her tour of Kingston and Montego Bay with visits to an urban poverty project in Trench Town, as well as a community centre and a boys school. She will also address a special session of the Jamaican Parliament, and will be the guest of honour at a reception hosted by the Jamaican governor.
The 75-year-old monarch and the Duke of Edinburgh will be abroad until March 4. The visit to Jamaica will be followed by royal tours of Australia and New Zealand.
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