Dear Editor,

Prince Harry is visiting the Caribbean for the first time, in honour of his grandmother Queen Elizabeth’s Diamond Jubilee. We understand the trip will cost the country $3 million – fortunately not too much since his accommodation will be at King’s House.

There will be the usual media interest surrounding the Royal Visit. We understand at least 50 media outlets have applied for accreditation to cover the visit, so if nothing else, the country will get some valuable publicity. He will also help to highlight charitable interest at some of the places he will visit and of course he will experience our culture, food, and hospitality.

I wish Prince Harry a pleasant stay, but wonder why a gun salute was necessary on his arrival as he is not a head of state. Why is a grandchild of The Queen entitled to a gun salute? If the press release issued before he came had said that the salute was in honour of The Queen’s 60 years on the throne, I could live with that. Royalty has always being about pomp and pageantry – a good show.

News of the local press being “dissed” and extra privileges given to foreign media by government for the visit is also cause for concern. We need to be more careful and sensitive about official protocol.

P Chin

chin_p@yahoo.com

Editor’s note: Standard Royal Salutes consist of 21 guns and are fired on the arrival and departure The Queen; a Member of the Royal Family and certain other high-ranking dignitaries, including foreign heads of state.