War hero hails Charles for ’embracing and reviving’ Commonwealth
Victoria Cross hero Johnson Beharry has said the royal family are “embracing the Commonwealth” as he met the Prince of Wales during a major tour of member states of the family of nations.
Sergeant Beharry, who was awarded Britain’s highest military honour for twice saving colleagues while under fire in Iraq, suggested Charles, a future head of the Commonwealth, was helping to revive the institution which he said many had forgotten.
Sgt Beharry met the prince as he began a tour of Grenada, the servicemen’s nation of birth, and visited the parliament building for talks with prime minister Keith Mitchell.
Asked about the meeting, Sgt Beharry said: “As you say his name I keep getting goosebumps. I never thought in history I would be in Grenada with his royal highness at the same time.”
The VC recipient, of the 1st Battalion, Princess of Wales’s Royal Regiment, highlighted the importance of Harry’s 2016 trip to Grenada and now his father’s visit.
The Prince and The Duchess have arrived in Grenada! Looking forward to a busy day of engagements ahead. #RoyalVisitGrenada
TRH are welcomed by the Prime Minister of Grenada, Keith Mitchell, and Governor General Dame Cécile La Grenade. pic.twitter.com/wAvv6typIa
— Clarence House (@ClarenceHouse) March 23, 2019
He added: “First we have Prince Harry and now with have His Royal Highness Prince Charles, I cannot really put it together in words how important it is to have the royal family visiting Grenada.
“With what’s going on with Brexit and everything else, to build a relationship with the Commonwealth, to show that there is a Commonwealth and to see the royal family’s actually embracing the Commonwealth – more or less recreating back the Foreign and Commonwealth.
“Because for years there was the word Commonwealth and no one knew, even myself, what it meant because there was no relationship and I know the reason why.
“Now is very important to raise the profile of the Commonwealth and bring the whole of the Commonwealth back together and the UK is showing… support to the Commonwealth.”
The prince and Duchess of Cornwall have already visited St Lucia, Barbados, St Kitts and Nevis and St Vincent and the Grenadines during a busy tour at the request of the British Government which is aimed at strengthening ties with the Commonwealth nations.
