Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are carried on thrones as thousands greet them in Tuvalu on latest leg of South Pacific tour
- Kate and William touch down in remote island cluster of Tuvalu
- They are carried from private jet on thrones behind procession of performers
- Royal couple had previously snorkelled and had private dinner before flying
- Stop in Tuvalu is the last leg of their Diamond Jubilee Tour
By REBECCA ENGLISH, ROYAL CORRESPONDENT IN THE SOLOMON ISLANDS
|
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge were carried from a private jet on thrones today as they embarked on the last leg of their Diamond Jubilee tour.
The royal couple arrived in Tuvalu, a small cluster of islands in the South Pacific, and were greeted by an enthusiastic 5,000-strong local crowd.
William and Kate had earlier stayed on the South Pacific isle of Tavanipupu, where they had a private meal in one of the most romantic spots on earth.
King and Queen for the day: William and Kate are carried on thrones after their arrival at Funafuti in Tuvalu today as they await the judgment in Paris
Special greeting: The Duke and Duchess's seated journey continued even after they touched down, as they were carried on thrones behind a procession of dancers
Friendly welcome: William and Kate are carried from their private jet in Tuvalu, where thousands greeted them on the small cluster of islands
The Duke and Duchess also went snorkelling under the stars in the middle of a tropical downpour last night.
The couple were staying on the South Pacific isle of Tavanipupu, one of the most romantic spots on earth.
After the anguish of recent days, they enjoyed a few brief hours of private time as they cooled off in the Coral Sea before enjoying dinner on the deck of their £785 a night thatched bungalow on the exclusive resort, away from even their Scotland Yard bodyguards.
A source said: 'It was utterly beautiful and they enjoyed themselves immensely.'
Enjoying the scenery: The royal couple soak up the atmosphere in Tuvalu on the latest leg of their tour
Having a ball: After her giggling fit yesterday, the Duke and Duchess were again in good spirits after arriving in Tuvalu
The Duchess, still wearing her headpiece, drinks from a coconut in Funafuti, Tuvalu, during which she appeared to be enjoying herself
Private moment: The royal couple share an aside as the welcome celebrations continue in Tuvalu
Meeting the locals: Kate talks to a dancer dressed with a brightly-coloured headpiece after touching down in Tuvalu
Happy to be here: The Duchess, wearing a primrose dress with a lace overlay, gets to know locals after touching down in Tuvalu
Pamela Kimberly, the resort's co-owner, said: 'I was astounded at how down to Earth and lovely they were. They just seemed to love it. They were happy and relaxed.
'When they arrived, we gave them a pina colada each made from rum, fresh pineapple juice and coconut cream. William liked it so much, we gave him another one. He had two, she had one.'
'They got straight into the snorkelling and saw lots of beautiful fish. They were just swimming and enjoying the island. They had dinner on their own private jetty. This morning they walked out on the big dock.
Safe descent: The Duchess disembarks from the private jet after landing at Honiara International Airport today
Fan of flying: The Duchess earlier held a fan as she prepared to board the private jet to Tuvalu with her husband
The Duchess battled the humidity in the South Pacific by using this fan as she boarded the private jet
Ready to board: Kate gives a cheerful wave to onlookers at Honiara Airport as the couple embarked for the final leg of their tour
Pre-flight routine: The Duchess had earlier chatted to Solomon Island officials as she and her husband prepared to board the private jet to Tuvalu
THE SOLOMON ISLANDS: A WELL KEPT SECRET PARADISE
They were the scene of fierce fighting between the Americans and Japanese during WWII before infighting broke out in the late 1990s. In 2007 they were struck by a major earthquake and subsequent tsunami.
It's fair to say the Solomon Islands were in desperate need of this Royal boost.
Lying east of Papua New Guinea there are nearly 1,000 islands in all covering around 11,000 square miles.
They are still far from being a tourist destination, but some parts remain an undiscovered gem for divers and those looking for adventure. A wealth of coral reefs team with fish - and WWII wrecks - in the Central Province area, while to the west volcanoes bubble under the surface.
Tonight Kate and William are staying on the five star private island resort of Tavanipupu, an ideal honeymoon destination.
The island had been a coconut plantation in the 19th century before English interior decorator Dennis Bellote and his late partner Keith Paske bought it in the 1970s.
In 2010 the population of the Solomon Islands was just over half a million people. The majority are Christian but the worship of ancestors is still widely practised in village areas.
One of the ancestral beliefs is that the soul is re-incarnated in birds, reptiles or sharks. As such these creatures are held in high regard. Solomon Islanders have traditionally worshipped the shark and when warriors went out on raiding parties to rival islanders, some of the tribesmen would usually swim alongside in shark costumes.
Handicraft skills are also passed down through the generations as is the ability to play the pan pipes.
The Duke and Duchess have received nothing but a warm welcome from islanders during their tour of the South Pacific, so it's hard to believe that up until the 1930s they were considered violent and dangerous head-hunting, cannibals who worshipped skulls.
The Islands remain at a steamy 27C (80F) throughout most of the year, but there is some respite from June to August with cooler temperatures. November to April sees more, frequent rain - and the occasional cyclone.
'At least the weather was glorious for them this morning. Last night it poured down for hours. But that did not stop William and Kate wanting to eat outdoors beneath a bamboo gazebo at the end of their jetty.
'They had some shelter but that's not completely waterproof, I can tell that but they just wanted to be outside,'
'They couldn't have been more complimentary about the island. They said they would definitely tell their friends about it. And that meant a lot to us.
Ms Kimberly, who has spent £3.69 million buying and upgrading the island, hopes that the royal visit will lead to a boom in bookings. 'After four years of hard work, it felt like it was worth the whole thing,' she said.
Tavanipupu is already the top-rated destination on holiday review website TripAdvisor in the South Pacific and in the top 10 rated in the world, according to John Sullivan, chairman of the board that runs the island.
The couple have spent the last two days in the Solomon Islands learning more about the Melenesian culture and passing on the good wishes of the Queen, who is still, remarkably, head of state.
Today they arrived back in the capital, Honiara, where they boarded their private jet for the last leg of their Diamond Jubilee tour to Tuvalu.
Kate, 30, was wearing a pretty primrose dress made for her by an anonymous dressmaker which had a lace overlay dotted with flowers.
Her hair was swept back in a bun - no bad thing due to the oppressive humidity - and on her feet were one of her favourite Russell and Bromley wedges.
As they changed over planes, William, dressed in a dark blue suit, stood for the National Anthem and then inspected a guard of honour before he and his wife waved one last goodbye and then flew off out over the crystal waters.
The couple will swap their night of luxury to stay in the spartan apartment of an Australian naval officer on Tuvalu, as accommodation is so limited on one of the most remote places ion the globe.
Tuvalu is a remote cluster of islands at the other end of the South Pacific, with a population of barely 10,000 people.
It last hosted a royal visit in 1882 when the Queen, who is also head of state there, and Prince Philip were ferried to shore from the royal yacht in garlanded canoes.
They were then hoisted onto the shoulders of dozens of strapping warriors and carried through the street of the capital Funafuti.
Although they are arriving by plane, the Duke and Duchess have been promised a similarly exotic welcome involving some sort of vessel and the same strapping young men - but even aides admit that they don't quite know what the locals have in mind.
'It will be a bit of an adventure - for all of us,' said one.
Tuvalu is the fourth smallest state in the world after the Vatican City, Monaco and neighbouring Nauru.
The archipelago of nine coral atolls came under British jurisdiction in 1877 and became a colony in 1915.
The islands were granted self governance in 1978.
Television was only introduced five years ago - allowing islanders to watch William and Kate's royal wedding last year for the first time.
Ifikhar Ayar, Tuvaluan Consul to the UK, said the islanders were thrilled at their visit.
'Tuvaluans respect royalty very much. The people have a strong devotion to Her Majesty The Queen.'
Flying high: The royal couple have received a hugely warm and friendly welcome from all officials in the Solomon Islands throughout their trip
The Duke of Cambridge climbs into the private jet for the trip to Tuvalu, a cluster of islands with a population of just over 10,000
All smiles: The Duchess looked relaxed and happy as her and William flew from the international airport in Honiara today
Jetting off: William and Kate flew from Honiara on a private jet to the last leg of the tour in Tuvalu
EBAY BIDS FOR COPY OF ITALIAN MAG WHICH PUBLISHED PICS TOP £120
Trashy: The issue of Italian 'Chi' magazine which published the pictures
Shameless eBay sellers are cashing in on the topless photos of the Duchess of Cambridge by selling copies of the magazine in which they appeared.
Bids for a copy of Italian 'Chi' magazine containing the images this morning reached a staggering £122.
There is still three days remaining on the eBay auction, meaning online buyers could pay hundreds of pounds for a copy of the controversial Italian magazine.
A description of the magazine shows the offending image itself of Kate sunbathing topless.
It adds underneath that the magazine 'features the much talked about topless photos of Kate Middleton'.
The description then insists that the magazine is 'well worth it - 26 page spread!!'.
By 8am this morning there had been 26 bids for a copy of the magazine, with the top price a whopping £122.
The down market Italian magazine published 18 controversial pictures of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge on holiday.
And in a bizarre and at times embarrassing series of interviews its editor described Kate as a 'Greek goddess' and William as a 'fine figure of man.'
Alfonso Signorini, 48, went ahead with the publication despite calls from Buckingham Palace to respect the couple's privacy.
In a tasteless and trashy article accompanying the photos the magazine also commissioned a plastic surgeon Paolo Santanche to describe the Duchess’s body.
Signorini, 48, a former Latin teacher said: 'I really don't see what all the fuss is about. I don't see how a topless photo in 2012 can create all these scandal and controversy. Kate is a very beautiful woman. What is the problem - and William is also a fine figure of a man.
'All Kate is doing is sunbathing topless like millions of other women. They are a normal couple in love.'
The pictures are the same ones that were used in the French magazine Closer last week and which were taken while the couple were on holiday in a French chateau in Provence.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2204827/Duke-Duchess-Cambridge-carried-thrones-thousands-greet-Tuvalu-latest-leg-South-Pacific-tour.html#ixzz26oYhWHPl