[BBC] – Prince Harry has met Barbados’s biggest star, Rihanna, twice in a day at events marking 50 years of independence.

At an afternoon event in Bridgetown, Prince Harry kept the singer waiting as he stopped to greet the president of Guyana first, before turning to her. Rihanna, who has had eight UK number ones and 29 UK top 10 hits, stood to greet the prince, who said: “Hello, it’s very nice to meet you.”

The pair later sat side-by-side on stage at a celebratory concert. A senior royal aide said the prince, who wore his medals and his insignia as a Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order, had been told 20 minutes before he arrived at the afternoon gala that Rihanna would be there.

“We thought he would be meeting her for the first time at the concert,” he said.

Rihanna wore a blue dress and opted for striking yellow finger nails – both colours are on the Barbados flag. Later, Prince Harry and Rihanna sat next to each other on stage at a concert at Kensington Oval cricket ground in Bridgetown.

The 20,000-strong crowd cheered and chanted Prince Harry’s name when he was introduced, prompting a smile from the royal. But there was an even bigger response for Barbados-born Rihanna.

Prince Harry told the audience: “Your independence was a declaration of confidence in the future. “And 50 years on Barbados is a country rightfully proud of its vibrant culture, its sporting prowess, and its natural beauty that attracts visitors from all over the world.”