KATHMANDU, Nepal (AP) – Britain’s Prince Harry stayed at the village home of a former Nepalese Gurkha soldier who had served in the British army Monday as the prince continues his tour of the Himalayan nation.
The prince flew to the Leurani village, northwest of the capital Kathmandu, Monday where he spend time with the villagers dancing and later feasting with the family of Mangali Tamang, 86-year-old widow of a former soldier.
Villagers lined up the trail to the village offering flowers and cream-colored scarf which is offered to special guests. He stopped to visit two families who are building their homes after it was destroyed in last year’s earthquake.
Press Association said Tamang was overjoyed to have her guest and, following Nepalese custom, referred to the royal as “king”: “I’m very happy. I cried ‘when I die I can say I talked to the king of a foreign land’.”
“I could do nothing, put a garland of flowers around him and then I blessed him,” Tamang was quoted as saying. “I blessed him so that he may live to be 100 years and all his wishes become fulfilled, and where he goes success will follow him.”