Duke of Edinburgh meets 192-year-old tortoise named Jonathan during trip to St Helena – 76 years after Queen Elizabeth met him when he was 115

Queen Elizabeth was just a young princess when she came face to face with a 115-year-old tortoise named Jonathan during a royal trip to Saint Helena in 1947.

That same turtle, now 192 years old, received a special visit from the Queen's late son Prince Edward, who is visiting the subtropical British overseas territory for the first time as part of an overseas tour.

The Duke of Edinburgh, who was pictured crouching next to the Seychelles giant tortoise, is spending four days on the South Atlantic island having already completed a two-day tour of South Africa.

The king's youngest brother, 59, joins a long list of royals who have met Jonathan; believed to be the oldest living animal in the world after hatching in 1832.

The late Queen met the turtle when she visited the island as a princess with her father, King George VI, the Queen Mother and her sister Princess Margaret in 1947.

She was filmed laughing hysterically as her mother and father fed the turtle. Ten years later, she returned to the island as queen with her husband Prince Philip.

In 1947, Jonathan also met the Duke's grandfather, King George VI, and his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, who was a princess at the time.

Prince Edward is the first member of the royal family to visit St Helena since Princess Anne traveled there in 2002.

A public holiday has been announced on the island on Wednesday to celebrate the visit of the duke, who is 14th in line to the throne.

In St Helena, Prince Edward will meet community leaders and celebrate the island's culture, people and biodiversity. Yesterday he became the first royal to arrive on the island by plane, as the airport only opened in 2017.

Governor Nigel Phillips said: 'This promises to be a special occasion, with a public holiday that allows the whole community to take this opportunity to celebrate all that is great about the culture and environment of this remarkable island.'

A trip to St Helena follows a visit to South Africa, where Prince Edward may have just put into words what many women are thinking right now.

Seemingly referring to global crises including the invasion of Ukraine and the Israeli-Hamas war, the king's brother expressed the view that “men may not be doing so well right now.”

Speaking at the British High Commission in Pretoria on Monday evening to announce enhanced scientific cooperation between South Africa and Britain, Edward said: 'I know the world is not in a happy place at the moment.

'If I may be completely honest, men are not doing so well at the moment. That is why I am not particularly happy to stand here and speak [as a man]. But I will say that there is more that unites us, more that brings us together, than divides us.”

Seemingly referring to global crises including the invasion of Ukraine and the war between Israel and Hamas, Prince Edward (pictured on a tour of Pretoria's National Botanical Garden) expressed the view that “men may not do so well in healthcare'. moment'

It is clear that Edward's comments were in response to speeches made by others, and in the context of a number of international conflicts mentioned.

“His Royal Highness reflected on the need to build bridges and not allow conflict to drive communities apart,” the source said.

His words are likely to be welcomed by women's groups, and no doubt by his wife, the Duchess of Edinburgh, who has become a global campaigner on gender equality issues, including the disproportionate impact of conflict on women and girls and the positive role women play in it . building peace.

Sophie is a strong supporter of both the Women, Peace and Security agenda and the UK's Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict Initiative.

Prince Edward receives a gift from a traditional healer during a tour of the Pretoria National Botanical Garden

Edward (pictured during his visit), 59, who was created Duke of Edinburgh last year, spoke during a two-day official visit to South Africa

The Duke of Edinburgh receives gifts from traditional healers during a tour of the Pretoria National Botanical Garden in Pretoria, South Africa

The Duke of Edinburgh talks to South Africa's Minister for Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Barbara Creecy

The overseas tour comes as the Princess of Wales remains in hospital following abdominal surgery, with the Prince of Wales temporarily stepping back from his royal duties to care for her and their children, and as the King prepares to be admitted to a undergo treatment for an enlarged prostate. .

The Duke and his wife, the Duchess of Edinburgh, both aged 59, are the youngest members of Charles' downsized working monarchy currently serving in royal duties.

At just 47 square kilometers, St Helena is a third the size of the Isle of Wight, and about the same size as Disney World Orlando. The nearest landmass is Ascension Island, which lies 800 miles to the northwest.