Prince and PM Embrace at First Meeting

KINGSTON — The picturesque backdrop of the historic Devon House, was the setting for a meeting between His Royal Highness Prince Henry of Wales (always known as Prince Harry) and Prime Minister, Hon. Portia Simpson Miller.

Onlookers would not have known that the two were meeting for the first time as, like long lost friends reuniting after a long separation, they exchanged a warm embrace, with the Prince kissing the Prime Minister on both cheeks.

The pair then held hands as they chatted animatedly on the steps of the facility, which is a prime tourism attraction in Kingston.

After allowing time for the press to take photographs, the two went inside for a tour of the facility, with the Prince meeting with Government ministers, followed by lunch.

The Devon House Heritage Site is one of Jamaica's leading national monuments. The site, located in the heart of Kingston, sits on an 11-acre property, which boasts a beautiful mansion and sprawling grounds with facilities that attract both local and overseas visitors.

The mansion was commissioned by Jamaica's first black millionaire George Stiebel in 1881, and underwent restoration in 1969, 1982, and 1987 and again in 2008. It was visited by Her Majesty the Queen in 1982 and His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales in 2008.

By Tracey Thompson,
JIS Editor