Princess Anne ends busy and highly successful visit |02 December 2010

Princess Anne was seen off at Seychelles International Airport by Designated Minister Vincent Meriton and principal secretary for foreign affairs Maurice Loustau-Lalanne.

She flew on a private jet to Assumption island for an onward helicopter trip to Aldabra.

Mr Meriton said the Seychelles government was very happy she came here, and noted that the highlight of her visit was the official opening of the University of Seychelles – in her capacity as the Chancellor of the University of London – which she carried out with President James Michel, who is the Chancellor of UniSey.

The Princess is keen to see science studies being further developed at UniSey, Mr Meriton added.

He said she appreciated our environment conservation efforts, the work we are doing to promote our tourism industry and our role in the fight against piracy.

“As the President said, Seychelles and the UK have longstanding historical ties, and the visit helped keep their memories alive,” he said.

In his speech at the opening of the university, Mr Michel said our attachment to the Royal Family and to Britain was born out of almost 200 years of shared history, first as a dependency, then as a Crown colony and subsequently as a member of the Commonwealth.

“Those ties have been reinforced by visits by members of the Royal Family,” he said.

“More than half a century ago we had the honour to welcome His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh on a brief visit to our shores on his way to open the Olympic Games in Australia.

“In 1972, Her Majesty the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh graced us with their presence for the opening of our international airport.

“And in 2006, His Royal Highness Prince Edward co-presided with me at the Gold Award ceremony of the President’s Gold Award Programme.”

Mr Michel said it was now the turn of the Princess Royal, and it was a great honour and pleasure to welcome her to our islands.

Princess Anne arrived here on Monday, met war veterans at the Mont Fleuri cenotaph, took part in the opening of the university and met President Michel and other dignitaries at State House the same day.

On Tuesday she visited the Vallée de Mai on Praslin and the EU-Navfor facilities at the airport.

On her way to visit the Seychelles Coast Guard, she saw the coco de mer her father planted at the Botanical Gardens before meeting children at the President’s Village.