Prince Charles and Camilla kick off first foreign tour post-pandemic

Robert Jobson16 November 2021

The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall touched down in Jordan’s capital Amman as they began their first major overseas tour since the pandemic began.

Charles and Camilla arrived at Queen Alia International Airport in an RAF Voyager and were welcomed by a Royal Jordanian Guard.

The couple, who were given the go-ahead to go by the Queen despite her decision to pull out of her appearance at the Cenotaph on Sunday, were met by British Ambassador Bridget Brind and other diplomatic staff.

The Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall visit Jordan

Britain's Prince Charles attends centenary celebration at the Jordan Museum
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They then headed to the Al Husseiniya Palace for a formal welcome from King Abdullah II and Queen Rania.

They were escorted through an inner courtyard where they were greeted by an honour guard of the historic Circassian Royal Guard.

After posing for photographs, heir to the British throne Charles and Sandhurst graduate King Abdullah II — whose mother Princess Muna Al-Hussein was born Antoinette Avril Gardiner in Suffolk — held a private meeting.

Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall Visit Jordan
Later the royal couple were visiting the site where John the Baptist is said to have baptised Jesus Christ
Getty Images

Later the royal couple were visiting the site where John the Baptist is said to have baptised Jesus Christ.

Officially known as “Bethany Beyond the Jordan”, the area is an archaeological World Heritage site on the east bank of the Jordan River.

Christians believe Jesus was immersed in the waters of the Jordan River by John the Baptist — although there are disputes over which side of the river the baptism took place.

With thousands of visitors coming to see the spot every year, the area is important to tourism to both Jordan and Israel, which continue to duel over baptism sites, one across from the other, with the shallow, narrow, stream serving as international boundary.

At the site Charles and Camilla were being met by Prince Ghazi bin Muhammad before walking around the base of Elijah’s Hill, where it is believed that the prophet Elijah ascended to heaven in the 9th century BC.

They were also set to see the excavations around the cave where John the Baptist is said to have lived and the remains of a 5th-century church.

Charles and Camilla were then due to descend the steps to the riverbed and touch the water.

The Prince of Wales and Prince Ghazi were then set to walk to a tented area to meet with a group of interfaith leaders for discussions centred on environment and interfaith.

Charles and Camilla will carry out another day of engagements in Jordan before travelling on to Egypt in what is the first royal overseas tour for two years after they were stopped in the pandemic.

The Queen is understood to be carrying out light duties at Windsor Castle today despite suffering a back sprain that prevented her attending the Remembrance Sunday commemorations.

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