Charles and Camilla share sunset at pyramids
Ancient wonder defies the imagination, says Prince as he and Duchess pay first visit to Egypt together
The Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall have made their first visit to the pyramids together, as the heir to the throne showed his wife a feat of human ingenuity that he said “defies the imagination”.
The couple, who are on a two-day visit to Egypt, posed for the ultimate holiday photographs at the Giza pyramid complex and in front of the Great Sphinx. They walked arm-in-arm for a personal tour of one of the wonders of the ancient world, as they took in the view at sunset.
They have visited the pyramids separately before in a private capacity, but have not been together.
It is understood the Prince was keen to show his wife the sights, believing they are an example of human ingenuity that the modern world can learn from.
“Gathering by this wonder of the ancient world, we are reminded of miraculous feats,” he told a reception last night. “It defies the imagination to consider how your ancestors with rudimentary tools were able to construct such massive and magnificent edifices and align them almost perfectly north to south. Like our rather more modest ancient stone circles in England, the pyramids remind us of a connection to our planet that we have over time forgotten.”
Climbing the 4,500-year-old stones of the 454ft-high Pyramid of Khufu, also known as Cheops, the Prince and Duchess stepped inside the tunnel entrance.
Ashraf Mohi, director of the complex, told the couple they were on an “adventure”, adding: “You are stepping on rocks that go back centuries and centuries.”
The couple, who had spent the rest of the day in meetings and engagements, posed for photographs, first in front of the pyramids and then the Great Sphinx.
It was the first time the Prince had been in Cairo for 15 years.
The royal visit to Egypt is designed to celebrate its ties with Britain ahead of the country hosting Cop27 next year.
Earlier in the day, the couple visited the historic Al-alzar mosque, where the Prince urged young people learning English to build friendships across religious boundaries. “The most important thing is to emphasise what we have in common, not what divides us,” the Prince told them. “Do remember that. We share so much.”
The royal couple paid a visit to Abdel Fattah al-sisi, the president, and his wife Entissar Amer.