There has been criticism in the New Zealand media of the Tongan King’s recent trip to Scotland. The criticism has arisen as Tonga has recently suffered the tragic sinking of a ferry, with many people perishing. At least 149 people were on board, with 54 survivors having being found, and 2 bodies. The number dead is unconfirmed. The ferry was in a questionable condition at the time, and for many days the location of the ship below the water was unknown. The ferry, the Princess Ashika, was located by the New Zealand Navy yesterday, although she is in water 50-60 metres too deep for the New Zealand and Australian Navy divers to reach.

New Zealand Prime Minister John Key’s only comment about the King’s travelling during a time of such grief was that he understood that the trip was a long term commitment, and the Tongan education minister defended King George Tupou, saying that it was an official visit. The public’s reaction to the King’s trip seems to be mixed, with reports that those Tongans at home are not concerned by his absence, yet there have been outpourings of anguish and grief on the internet.

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 Earlier this month on a on a visit to Scotland the Duke and Duchess of Rothesay conducted two very different engagements in one day with projects dear to their hearts. At the launch of an eco-friendly education centre Charles took the opportunity to share the difficulties of being an unwitting trailblazing eco-warrior. Long before most of us ‘Boomers’ had given a passing thought to the ramifications of oodles of chemical “improving” our veggies . . . we were just happy to cut down on the slugs and weeds and chopping down any old tree for no other reason than it was in the way. 

Meanwhile Charles, the budding environmentalist, was taking a hiding to nothing with the abuse heaped on his unsuspecting head.  That he finds it in him to share about “the enormous degree of   abuse” this engendered with any degree of equanimity and come out the other side with wit and humour to encourage his fellow gardeners and budding environmentalists says a lot about the man he has become.  That he and the Duchess then proceeded to “get down and dirty” planting trees is just the cherry on top of the icing on the cake!

 Their other engagement that day was what is fast becoming their best double act, a morale-boosting visit to the troops.  In this case at the Black Watch’s Barracks at Fort George to greet the families of Black Watch, 3rd Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland (of which Charles is Royal Colonel), who left in March for a six-month tour. Read more…

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