He has many thrones at home. But none of them are quite like that.
And King Charles was delighted as environmental activists unveiled one they had made especially for him from recycled plastic at Nyali Beach in Mombasa today, on the third day of his state visit to Kenya.
Non-profit organization Flipflopi uses everything from plastic bottles to flip-flops to transform a variety of remarkable products into heritage products – and has even created a seaworthy, seven-ton traditional sailing dhow made entirely from waste found on the beach.
It took them a month to craft the intricate traditional Swahili chair in honor of the king’s environmental legacy, which was unveiled to him during the visit.
Co-founder Dipesh Pabari highlighted Charles’ campaign against ocean plastic, which began more than 50 years ago, at a time when his eco-campaign was considered somewhat eccentric.
King Charles was also accompanied by Queen Camilla on a visit to Mtongwe Naval Base in Mombasa, Kenya
“In fact, he was absolutely visionary and absolutely right,” he said.
The throne embodied the many influences of Swahili culture with detailed cutouts made from recycled bottle caps and other plastic remnants that would once have been made of ivory.
The King also chatted with Early Birds Bands, a community organization that promotes marine conservation at Nyali Beach, including clean-up operations.
And in honor of his work as a Tide Turner Warrior, he was awarded a special badge by the Unite Nation youth movement Tide Turners.
King Charles was later joined by Queen Camilla as they visited Mtongwe Naval Base in Mombasa today.
The royals are visiting Kenya at the invitation of Kenyan President William Ruto to celebrate relations between the two countries.
Charles and Camilla, who wore stylish sunglasses during the outing, appeared to be in high spirits as they witnessed the Royal Marines training Kenya Marines.
Camilla exuded elegance in a long white shirt dress, which she paired with matching trousers and a cream handbag.
Representatives from a nonprofit called Flipflopi today gifted Charles a throne (pictured) made from recycled plastic
Charles looked typically dapper in a cream suit, which he teamed with a white shirt and a navy and red striped tie.
The King met with members of the UN Environment Program (UNEP) Tide Turners, a global youth movement founded to educate young people about marine plastic pollution and encourage them to do their part to protect the environment.
He also welcomed representatives from Baus Taka Enterprise, a women and youth-led organization that uses technology to improve marine conservation efforts.
Joanne Mirraho, 17, sparked cheers from her friends when she expressed her affection for the king, saying: “I love you!”
As Charles was presented with a Plastic Tide Turners scarf and a Kenyan Scout badge in honor of his position as a lifelong environmentalist, the schoolgirl shook the king’s hand.
Afterwards she said: “I told the king I love him because that’s how I feel in general.”
“He is a champion of the planet, a good man and someone we can look up to. He said we should be very proud of the work we do to protect our environment and that means a lot to us.”
Co-leader Dephence Mrubde said the king’s visit would “reinforce the message” of the Girl Guides and Kenyan Scouts and their environmental programs.
King Charles helped Camilla as she disembarked the Admiral’s Barge during her visit to Mtongwe Naval Base
Charles appeared to be in high spirits as members of Flipflop presented him with an eco-friendly throne
She said: “This is a great day for us and all leaders and scouts in Kenya.” The King is definitely someone young people can look up to.
“We watched his speeches and his message that we as young people have a responsibility to protect the planet for future generations.”
Patrick Nyakundi, a Rover Scout with the Kenyan Scouts, led the king through several stalls on the sultry beach in Mombasa.
We take Charles to a turtle enclosure on the beach where local conservationists have implemented a conservation program.
He said: “The King was keen to hear how we combine local knowledge and the passion of young people to help protect our wildlife and environment.”
“It was a great pleasure to have the opportunity to work with him today and we can use it to spread our message.”
The royals are visiting Kenya at the invitation of Kenyan President William Ruto to celebrate relations between the two countries
The king also met with representatives of Baus Taka Enterprise, a women and youth-led company that uses technology to improve marine conservation efforts. and Dipesh Pabari and Ali Skanda, who told him how their nonprofit Flipflopi had built the world’s first sailing dhow out of recycled plastic and 30,000 discarded flip-flops. They also presented a traditional Swahili chair – made from recycled plastic – in gratitude for a £700,000 grant their organization received from the UK government, which enabled them to collect up to 15 tonnes of plastic per month and one of their own to operate a recycling factory. The presidency goes to the British High Commission in Kenya.
“We really wanted to show our gratitude to the British government because the truth is that without them we wouldn’t be where we are today,” Mr Pabari said. “His Majesty was thrilled to see so many small organizations trying to find solutions to plastic waste.” He has been vocal about it since the 1970s; That’s pretty visionary.’
Next the king met medical student Zainab Mahmoud, 23, whose company Twende Green Ecocycle makes lockable school desks from recycled plastic and who won this year’s Mombasa Plastics Prize, which helps young entrepreneurs find solutions to plastic pollution.
“His Majesty congratulated me and said he encouraged us to keep going,” said Zainab, who will supply her desks, which are 20% cheaper than wooden desks, to Kenyan schools.
Camilla exuded elegance in a long white shirt dress which she paired with matching trousers
Charles looked typically dapper in a cream suit, which he teamed with a white shirt and a navy and red striped tie
The king also recalled his own training in the Royal Marines – including navigating an underwater tunnel nicknamed “The Sheep Dip” – as he watched Kenyan Marines conduct an amphibious beach landing with gunfire and smoke grenades.
The Marines, trained by both the Royal Marines and the US Marine Corps, are part of a five-year program to create a Marine Corps that can help fight the al-Qaeda-inspired al-Shabaab on the border with Somalia.
The king and queen, who are on the third day of their state visit, watched as 18 Kenyan marines landed in rubber boats on a beach at the Mtongwe naval base near Mombasa, where they opened fire – blanks only – from their M4 carbines. fired after being attacked from a defensive position on the beach.
After they managed to overwhelm the enemy, Captain Sam Powell of 40 Commando, who provided commentary as the sound of gunfire and the smell of cordite filled the air, said to the king and queen: “Now they’ve got through fought the position that they will move into the reorg [correct] where they will be conducting a headcount of their Marines.’
For the King, who wore his Royal Marines ties in his role as Captain General, the exercise brought back memories of 1974 when, as the Prince of Wales, he completed part of the Royal Marines’ all-arms course at Lympstone, while also qualifying as Helicopter pilot qualified Royal Navy.
He said to a Kenyan marine: “Have the Royal Marines done anything to you yet?” Have they used you as an assault course? They’re pretty tiring!’
Queen Camilla and King Charles visited Mtongwe Naval Base aboard the Admiral’s Barge to meet members of the Royal Marines and Kenya Marines
The child and the queen were welcomed by Kenyan President William Ruto and First Lady Rachel Ruto
He asked another if they had intercepted any drug smugglers. “You know exactly what to do with it!”
Captain Powell, who spoke to the King after the exercise, which was designed to highlight defense cooperation between Britain and Kenya, said: “We talked about Lympstone and the All-Army Course.” The King already has part of that course carried out once. He remembered the sheep dip that is part of the endurance course. It’s essentially an underwater tunnel that you dive through and come out the other side. So you have to hold your breath when you walk under it.”
The King and Queen, wearing a pink Anna Valentine chiffon tunic with white palazzo pants, arrived by boat for the training exercise before walking up the gangway. During the formal welcoming ceremony, the king, wearing trendy sunglasses, stood at a podium with Kenya’s President William Ruto before inspecting a guard of honor from the Kenyan Navy.
After the exercise, they spoke to the families of the Kenyan military personnel. When he was talking to a woman about how long her husband had been in the Navy, he said, “Has he been there a few years?” “Thirty-four,” she replied. ‘That’s very good!’ said the king. “It’s critical to the entire process.”
Charles and Camilla beamed as they were greeted by the President of the Republic of Kenya, William Ruto
The couple appeared in high spirits as they witnessed the Kenya Marines being trained by the Royal Marines
The King also spoke to a Royal Marine instructor and said: “Will you get a nice bit of holiday when you get back?”
“I hope so, sir,” he replied.
The first Kenyan naval commando unit passed out in May after completing basic training, which included using an obstacle course almost identical to the one at Lympstone.
The British High Commission said at the time: “The KCMU will be an elite combat force with the capability to conduct dedicated amphibious operations to degrade and defeat threats to Kenya and take the fight on land and sea to Al-Shababb.”
Yesterday the Queen had the opportunity to feed an orphaned baby elephant.
Charles and Camilla traveled to Mtongwe Naval Base aboard the Admiral’s Barge
Charles shook hands as he was greeted by the President of the Republic of Kenya, William Ruto
Camilla, who was later joined by King Charles, watched a herd of orphaned elephants playing at a specialist wildlife center near Nairobi.
She joked: “Is this the naughty corner?” as she pointed to a spot where some of the larger, more restless animals were placed.
As she fed the orphaned elephant calf Mzinga, one of the center’s youngest at one year old, she said: “They look very content and very happy.”
Camilla wore a Liberty elephant and peacock print cotton dress by Fiona Clare and a pair of practical and obviously worn brown ankle boots.
When she was introduced to the zookeepers, many of whom had worked at Sheldrick Wildlife Trust for decades, she said: “Everyone knows everyone, it’s so nice.”
A smiling Queen Camilla hid under a parasol as she visited Mtongwe Naval Base in Mombasa
The Queen was shown around by Angela Sheldrick, whose mother Dame Daphne founded the orphanage.
She was introduced to head zookeeper Edwin Lusichi, who has worked at the center for more than 20 years, and the other zookeepers before the baby elephant took a mud bath.
They explained that elephants often take mud baths to create a layer on their skin that protects them from insects and sunburn.
The King later joined the Queen and they heard about the work of the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust. The royals watched the baby elephants as they enjoyed their mud bath.
Veteran goalkeeper Edwin added: “You really never forget.” Even after they graduate from the wilderness, they will still remember you.
The King met with members of the UN Environment Program (UNEP) Tide Turners, a global youth movement founded to educate young people about marine plastic pollution and encourage them to do their part to protect the environment
After their visit to the Elephant Orphanage, Their Majesties were invited to a private evening safari in Nairobi National Park.
The couple enjoyed a sunset game drive in an open viewing vehicle.
A source said they were overjoyed to see a lion right next to their vehicle, as well as crocodiles, hippos, ostriches and springboks.
On the way out of Narobi National Park, Charles and Camilla also visited the park’s ivory distillery.
The site is a historic site where 12 tons of ivory was burned by former Kenyan President Daniel Arap Moi in 1989.
The Sheldrick Wildlife Trust was founded in 1977 by Dame Daphne Sheldrick in memory of her late husband, naturalist and founding director of Tsavo East National Park, Mr David Sheldrick.
Earlier in the day, Charles sampled popular local dishes at Nairobi Street Kitchen during a solo performance.
The king ordered a saag paneer kathi roll wrap and butter chicken samosa – and joked that the dishes could “blow your head”.
Luckily, sous chef Rhoda Asiyo said they had been instructed by the palace not to make the dishes “too spicy” for the 74-year-old monarch.
She said afterwards: “The king was great, very relaxed.” There were less formalities than I thought. I was nervous before I knew he was going to eat our food. Indian food is very popular here in Kenya. “The King has ordered a favorite dish that is flying off the shelves.”
The visit was intended to celebrate the Kenyan cultural and creative scene. His Majesty met young creatives, including artisans, fashion designers, musicians and artists supported by British Council grants.
The King toured a seven-stall pop-up exhibition showcasing Kenyan creative products, including graphic novels and sustainable fish leather bags.
Nthenya Mwendwa, owner of The Label Saba, told him how she managed to become the only African designer to have her products featured at the Oscars, Grammys and Emmys by following a “purely sustainable model”.
She said: “The king was very impressed. He said he is always interested in learning from different industries and how we can learn from each other. It was a really great experience getting to know him.”