Prince Harry Welcomed To Nepal By Five Virgins

Prince Harry has been welcomed to Nepal with a ceremony signifying luck and purity featuring five virgins.

The young women greeted their special guest with gifts of flowers and placed a garland around the prince's neck.

The Panchakanya - five virgins in Sanskrit - welcomed Harry to Kathmandu's famous Durbar Square in the traditional heart of the Kathmandu's old town.

He accepted their gifts with a smile before heading off for a tour of the area - a UNESCO World Heritage site.

On Saturday, Harry was the special guest at a reception held by the Nepalese government to mark 200 years since a treaty was signed between the UK and Nepal recognising the close relationship between the two independent countries.

Addressing the audience with the formal greeting "Namaste", he said: "Like so many people back home, I have grown up seeing beautiful images of Nepal in books and on television.

"I am sure you hear this all the time, but your country holds a special place in the imagination for so many people around the world."

He added: "I also know that I arrive here in Nepal as you approach the first anniversary of the earthquakes that took so many lives and that you are working to recover from.

"I pay my respects to those who perished and hope to do what I can to shine a spotlight on the resolve and resilience of the Nepalese people."

He ended by saying "Dhanyabad", which means thank you.

Harry told the country's president the long flight was worth it as he sat down for informal talks at the presidential palace.

Bidya Devi Bhandari warmly welcomed her guest, who performed a namaste greeting, clasping his hands together. They spoke through an interpreter as they were served tea, water and fruit juices.

The meeting lasted for 30 minutes and the pair discussed the Nepal Girl Summit they will open together on Wednesday.

As part of his five-day tour, Prince Harry also wants to draw attention to the help still needed in Nepal to aid recovery after last year's devastating earthquakes which killed nearly 9,000 people and forced thousands to spend the winter living in temporary camps.

The government has been criticised for delays in coordinating the recovery efforts.

Aishwarya Rana works for the charity Mercy Corps, one of the groups trying to help those affected to rebuild their homes and livelihoods.

It's a job made even harder by bureaucratic red tape.

She told Sky News: "There were some problems in the Indian and Nepal borders which brought the whole economy to a stop so we didn't have fuel, we didn't have essential supplies.

"It was frustrating because we really wanted to start our rebuilding work."

Harry's trip will also focus on Nepal's tourist trade, particularly conservation and trekking.

He will also pay tribute to the efforts of Gurkha soldiers, who have fought alongside British troops, including Prince Harry when he served in Afghanistan.