Carnival Queen Kate met by crowd of 70,000 as she and William parade streets in canoe float after arrival in the Solomon Islands
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Garlanded with fragrant frangipani and carried through the capital in a war canoe built on top of a van, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge arrived in the Solomon Islands today.
Having spent the last two days deep in the jungle on the island of Borneo, William and Kate had no idea of what to expect when they arrived in the tiny sovereign state east of Papua New Guinea – and it was unlikely that they would ever have guessed what greeted them.
As the couple stepped off their private jet at the capital, Honiara, they were greeted by a group of fearsome warriors dressed in raffia loin cloths and carrying spears, bows and musical instruments, shouting fearsome chants.
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Eye-catching: Prince William and Kate wave to the excited crowds in Guadalcanal Island from the back of a truck decorated as a canoe
Sail away: The bizarre vehicle picked up the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge at Honiara International Airport as their Diamond Jubilee tour continues
Crowd pleasers: Around 70,000 people headed onto the streets to watch William and Kate pass in the boat float
They laughed and smiled as they watched the men, only briefly bowing their heads to have sweet-smelling garlands placed around their necks.
Kate was wearing an £820 geometric patterned dress by Jonathan Saunders and a bespoke cocktail hat by Jane Taylor pinned to her curls at the back of her head as she was later attending church.
William inspected a guard of honour made up of the local police force, as the country does not have its own army.
Excited crowds: People of all ages lined the route to see the Royal visitors, who arrive 30 years after the Queen last stepped foot on the islands
Royal wave: The Pacific sun shines on the British visitors as they smile and acknowledge the crowds from the back of the specially-made float
Style icon: Kate wore a bespoke cocktail hat by Jane Taylor pinned to her curls at the back of her head and manages to make it match a pink frangipani garland
They then made their way to their remarkable carriage which had taken locals two weeks to make. War canoes – known as Tomoko - were traditionally used for head hunting or fighting but are now used to carry around VIPS – where on sea or land.
This one had been built round a white Toyota mini man and consisted of a magnificent carved prow which had been decorates with sea shells and feathers. On its base was a small carved spirit holding a bird to ward away evil known as a nguzu nguzu
The canoe, which was made of rush matting, bamboo and sago palm leaves, should have had two seats inside but William and Kate insisted they wanted to stand, according to the man in charge, Henry Murray.
Popular: William and Kate looked genuinely shocked and touched by the welcome they were given by the Solomon Islanders
War cry: Solomon Islands warriors performed a traditional dance to mark the arrival of Prince William and Kate in the capital Honiara
Traditional welcome: The Royal couple were met by dignitaries and traditional dancers as they stepped off the plane for the third stop on their nine-day tour
Brave face: Prince William and Kate's tour of Southeast Asia and the South Pacific has been overshadowed by the publication of the infamous topless pictures
Mr Murray said; ‘Although we live in a modern world now we should be proud of our old culture and show that we value our customs and traditions.’
Father Henry Teho, an Anglican priest who took part in the welcome ceremony, added: ‘When you would have come to our place in the old times you would have been killed and eaten straight away. But not today of course.’
‘The Tukawaka (welcome ceremony) is just to tell you that you are welcome here. Everyone here is looking forward to their visit very much particularly because of the fact that Prince William is the son of Princess Diana who is very much popular.’
The couple then took their places in the canoe for what has to be one of the most remarkable arrivals ever seen on a royal tour.
Happy couple: Kate looks delighted by the traditional islands welcome as the couple try to put the controversial topless saga behind them
Leading lady: Kate once again proves the star attraction as she confidently strides ahead of her husband
Natural beauty: Kate smiled throughout - whether meeting dignitaries at the airport, left, or being accompanied by a Solomon Islands warrior on the back of the float, right
Jet-setters: Prince William and Kate arrived at Honiara International Airport on a private jet, having spent the last few days in the Borneo jungle
Almost the entire 70,000 strong population of Honiara had turned out to line the 8 kilometre route between Henderson Airport and the town centre, cheering, shouting and waving flags.
William and Kate looked genuinely shocked and touched by the welcome, although they giggled when the saw a tin house which had been grandly named Prince Phillip (sic) Highway Plaza.
As they drew up to St Barnabas Cathedral, the noise was deafening, particularly as they dismounted to be greeted by His Excellency the Governor General of the Solomon Islands, Sir Frank Kabui, the Archbishop of Melanesia, The Most Very Reverend David Vunagi and the Dean of the cathedral, Davidson Nwaeramo.
Stepping up: Kate and William board the truck decorated as a war canoe known as Tomoko, traditionally used for head hunting but now reserved for VIPS
Sense of duty: Kate, alongside other dignitaries, watches her husband William on the podium during the welcome ceremony
Floral tribute: The Duke and Duchess were presented with fragrant frangipani garlands to hang around their necks
Later the couple are due to attend a ‘state banquet’ in the form of a traditional Solomon Islands feast in the grounds of Government House.
Food is cooked on hot stones and the Duke is expected to deliver a message on behalf of the Queen, who is still head of state .
The Duchess looked somewhat hot and bothered by the time she arrived at St.Barnabas Cathedral for the six o’clock service, no doubt due to the oppressive humidity.
The Dean began prayers by thanking God for the safe arrival of the Duke and Duchess. Unfortunately the lights went out four times - three times during the Archbishop’s sermon.
Royal "welkam": A police officer stationed on the roof of the airport salutes the arrival of Kate and William
Front row seats: People gather on and around a caterpillar dozer to get the best possible view of William and Kate
Looking good: Kate was wearing an £820 geometric patterned dress by Jonathan Saunders
Clearly used to it, he ploughed on until he finished, then walked back to his throne and mopped his brow. Kate began to fan herself with a dark blue and cream plaited fan which was left for her on the front pew, along with a purple one for William.
She ran her fingers down her face, pushed back her hair and fanned madly throughout the service. William used his order of service book to fan himself too occasionally.
Kate and William both joined in the hymns singing lustily and both knelt for prayers, while most of the congregation sat.
The couple are due to spend the next two days on the Solomons, including a night on Tuvanipupupu island, described as one of the most romantic spots on earth.
Pause for prayer: The VIPs were taken to a thanksgiving service at St Barnabas Cathedral at the start of their three-day visit to the Solomon Islands
Churchgoers: Kate began to fan herself inside the church with a plaited fan which was left for her on the front pew
Walking down the aisle: The Duke and Duchess were led into the church by Reverend David Vunagi
After that they will travel onto Tuvalu before jetting back to Britain on Wednesday.
Sources close to the couple say they are determined to press ahead with their trip despite a French magazine's decision to publish topless pictures of the Duchess derail their Diamond Jubilee tour – and the South Pacific leg of their trip certainly seems to help keep their mind off things.
A source close to William and Kate, said they felt intense anger and disappointment at what had happened but believed very strongly that the tour was far too important to British interests abroad to be allowed to suffer.
'The Duke and Duchess are hugely disappointed by what has happened but both feel very strongly that it should be business as usual,' the source said.
Forceful greeting: The Duke of Cambridge talks to police officers forming a guard of honour at the airport
On tour: 'They feel it has been a great success and have thoroughly enjoyed the places they have visited and the people they have met'
Island hopping: The couple will spend the next two days on the Solomons, including a night on Tuvanipupupu island, described as one of the most romantic spots on earth
Land and sea: The truck carrying the Duke and Duchess had been decorated as a war canoe
'They feel it has been a great success so far and have thoroughly enjoyed the places they have visited and the people they have met.
'Even when they were reeling from the shock of what happened on Friday, their smiles were entirely genuine.
'They are determined to press ahead and that it should be business as usual.'
The couple have launched a legal action in the French courts against Closer magazine for what they described as a 'grotesque' and 'unjustifiable' breach of their privacy.
VIDEO: The Royal couple arrive and are taken for a ride on a rather peculiar float...
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2203983/Carnival-Queen-Kate-met-crowd-70-000-William-parade-streets-canoe-float-arrival-Solomon-Islands.html#ixzz26dRxjTNq
