Turtle and the heir! Prince Edward meets 192-year-old Jonathan, the world's oldest living land mammal, and was also introduced to his grandfather, King George VI, in St Helena in 1947.
The Duke of Edinburgh has met the world's oldest living land animal: Jonathan, the 191-year-old giant tortoise.
Prince Edward, 59, crouched down to meet Jonathan as the turtle craned his neck for a closer look at the visiting royal family on the remote South Atlantic island of St Helena yesterday.
Jonathan is so old that in 1947, when he was 115 years old, he also met the Duke's late mother, Princess Elizabeth, later Queen Elizabeth II, and grandparents King George VI and Queen Elizabeth, later the Queen Mother.
In 1957, Prince Philip, the late Duke of Edinburgh, fed Jonathan (then 125) during a trip to St Helena.
The Seychelles giant tortoise has outlasted seven British monarchs and was born during the reign of William IV – with Charles III being the eighth monarch in his lifetime to date.
The Duke of Edinburgh met the world's oldest living land animal – Jonathan, the 191-year-old giant tortoise – in St Helena
He was brought to the island from the Seychelles in 1882, along with three other tortoises, when he was about 50 years old, and lives on the grounds of Plantation House, the governor's residence.
Jonathan is said to have been born in 1832 and although the exact date of birth is unknown, his official 191st birthday was celebrated in December.
The Duke will spend four days in the subtropical British Overseas Territory, opening the airport, meeting community leaders and learning about conservation efforts.
A public holiday was held on the island on Wednesday to celebrate the visit of Edward, who is 14th in line to the throne.
He is the first royal to visit the country since the Princess Royal traveled there 22 years ago in 2002.
Governor Nigel Phillips described it as a “special occasion,” with the holiday “enabling the entire community to take part in this opportunity to celebrate all that is great about the culture and environment of this remarkable island.”
The Turtle met Edward's late mother, Princess Elizabeth, later Queen Elizabeth II, and grandparents King George VI and Queen Elizabeth, later the Queen Mother, in 1947
The Governor of St Helena, Nigel Phillips, introduced Prince Edward to the world's oldest living land animal
Prince Edward crouched down to meet Jonathan as the turtle craned his neck for a closer look
The Governor of St Helena, Nigel Phillips (centre), greets the Duke of Edinburgh on arrival in St Helena
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.
In addition to a public event at the Grand Parade of the historic Georgian capital Jamestown later this week, the Duke will also engage with a cross-section of the St Helenian community through a number of other events.