IT WAS all smiles between Prince Harry and the children of the Joshua House Children Centre when he paid a visit early Sunday morning.

The Prince’s three-day tour of Guyana was also wrapped up on Sunday, and in the afternoon

he departed Guyana through the Eugene F. Correia International Airport.

Just before a stopover at State House — to meet President David Granger and First Lady Sandra Granger — the Prince met the residents of the orphanage, which is home to some 50 children between the ages of seven and 17. Of this number, 16 of them are females.

Many of the children quickly warmed up to the affectionate Prince, as he dotingly questioned them about life at the orphanage, and in turn took questions about his own life.
Harry’s welcome to the orphanage started off with a children’s choir singing a catchy welcome tune to the smiling Prince. The choir also belted out a rendition of “Oh Beautiful Guyana”.

Accompanied by British High Commissioner Gregory Quinn, among others, the 32-year-old Royal was given a tour of the facility by the home’s matron, Gladys Accra, who, like many of the children, was utterly smitten by the Prince’s presence.

“It’s a historical moment! It is amazing, it’s a blessing. I never expect that, and I have it,” Accra said at the end of Prince Harry’s visit.

Accra, who earlier this year received an award from the Government for her charitable service, said having the Prince visit felt like receiving a second award.

As he prepared to leave, the Prince was bestowed a gift from the home; while, in a returning gesture, one member of the Prince’s entourage donated his birthday cake to the home’s children.
Further, on his way out, a well-dressed elderly woman hugged the Prince and exclaimed, “Princess Margaret nephew!” no doubt referring to Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon and only sister of Harry’s grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II. Like Harry, Margaret had visited Guyana, but back in 1958, when it was known as British Guiana.

Even more fans awaited the blond-headed Prince when he got to his vehicle, and he politely took some time out to shake hands and offer a few cheerful words.

At State House, he was hosted by the First Lady, and met and talked in a private meeting with several young women who were victims of teenage pregnancy and human trafficking.
That stop wrapped up the Prince’s activities in Guyana, and he soon departed for the Eugene F. Correia International Airport, where he inspected the Guard of Honour before boarding a Beechcraft 1900 for Barbados.

Yesterday’s activities also marked the close of the Prince’s 15-day tour across the Caribbean, which began on November 20 in Antigua. Prince Harry also visited five other Caribbean territories.

This was the Prince’s second official visit to the Caribbean, following his first tour to the region in 2012; but this was his first visit to Guyana.
The Prince was scheduled to fly back home from Barbados.