British Prince Edward, the Duke of Edinburgh, held a courtesy courtesy call on President Ramchandra Poudel at the President’s Office, Sheetal Niwas, on Tuesday. The meeting, which was part of his ongoing visit to Nepal, involved discussions on issues of mutual interest.

According to the President’s office, the two leaders talked about bilateral cooperation and the global challenge of climate change. “Climate change has become a major global concern, and Nepal, being directly affected, has been vocal about the preservation of the Himalayas in international forums,” said President Poudel, as quoted by his press advisor, Kiran Pokharel.

In this context, President Poudel also shared information about Nepal’s upcoming “Sagarmatha Dialogue,” which is currently scheduled for May 16 to 18 in Kathmandu. The theme for the first edition of the dialogue will be “climate change, the mountains, and the future of humanity.”

The President further expressed gratitude for the ongoing visits of British royal family members, which he said have strengthened the friendly ties between Nepal and the United Kingdom. He recalled past royal visits by Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip in 1960 and 1986, respectively.

“Nepal and the UK have shared a close relationship for centuries, and we are thankful to the UK for its support in Nepal's development,” President Poudel added. He also conveyed well-wishes to King Charles for his health and well-being.

Prince Edward and his wife Sophie, the Duchess of Edinburgh, arrived in Nepal from India on Tuesday. They were accompanied by the UK Ambassador to Nepal, Rob Fenn. The Prince expressed his interest in learning more about the impact of climate change on Nepal and the measures the country is taking to address the issue. “I look forward to gaining further insights into the challenges Nepal faces in the Himalayas due to climate change,” he said during the meeting.

The Prince also highlighted the importance of youth and women empowerment in future UK-Nepal cooperation. He expressed his pleasure in visiting Nepal and thanked the country for its long-standing connection with the British Army, particularly the British Gurkhas. “The British-Gurkha relationship is a vital link in our bilateral ties and has played a key role in strengthening people-to-people connections,” said Prince Edward.

The meeting was also attended by Major-General Gerald Strickland, head of the British Gurkha Brigade, who presented the 2024 annual report of the brigade. President Poudel acknowledged the report and expressed gratitude to the UK government for its continued support.

Their discussions also touched on addressing grievances of former British Gurkhas, as well as on the creation of a “bilateral mechanism” to resolve their concerns.