Princess Anne was given a red-carpet welcome by schoolchildren in traditional dress in Papua New Guinea as part of her tour marking the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.
During her second day on the island, the Princess Royal visited Caritas Technical Secondary School, a Catholic boarding school for 700 girls in Port Moresby.
She was given the royal treatment upon arrival, presented with flowers and a performance by students in traditional dress, before being taken on a tour of the facilities including the cooking laboratory and the gymnasium.
The royal offered some advice to the pupils sitting in the gymnasium, while also expressing her gratitude for the welcome.
Local media outlet Loop PNG quoted Anne as saying that the school was a place where pupils could build their skills and options for life as adults.
“But it’s also about enjoying being part of the educational process, making new friends and respecting one another wherever you might come from,” she added.
“So, my congratulations to this school and all of you who have been part of it over the years. And a particular thank you for the way in which you have celebrated Her Majesty’s Jubilee.”
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Anne and her husband, Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence, landed to a warm reception in the capital, Port Moresby, on Monday.
Prime Minister James Marape greeted the pair at Jacksons International Airport and Anne was presented with a garland of flowers before she inspected a guard of honour.
The couple arrived after a weekend of engagements in Australia – including opening the 200th Sydney Royal Easter Show on Saturday, which she first opened with the Queen, Prince Philip and Prince Charles in 1970.
The reception of her tour marks a contrast to the recent tour by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge of the Caribbean, where they faced a backlash on their seven-day trip.
The couple were met with protests in Belize from locals which saw their planned visit to a cacao farm being cancelled.
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After visiting Caritas on Tuesday, the princess and her husband are scheduled to visit St John Ambulance, the Bomana War Cemetery, Adventure Park Papua New Guinea and the National Museum and Art Gallery.
She is also set to open a Women’s Resource Centre at Vabukori Village and the National Cardiac Diagnostic Centre at Port Moresby General Hospital, and will meet elders and community leaders at Hanuabada Village.
The royals will conclude the two-day tour with dinner with Mr Marape and representatives from the charity sector and business groups.
It comes after the Queen and the Royal Family marked the first anniversary of the Duke of Edinburgh’s death on Saturday.
