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Office of the President of The Republic of Seychelles

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Seychelles Bids Farewell To Royal Couple

The newly married Duke and Duchess of Cambridge left the Seychelles on 20th May following a 10-day honeymoon retreat on North Island.

The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Jean-Paul Adam, the CEO of the Seychelles Tourism Board (STB), Mr. Alain St Ange, and the Seychelles High Commissioner to Great Britain, Mr. Patrick Pillay, along with the British High Commissioner to Seychelles, Mr Matthew Forbes and his wife Lydia, were present to bid the royal couple farewell on Friday afternoon at the airport.

"The people of Seychelles are truly honoured that Prince William and his wife chose to return to Seychelles for this special holiday and we are proud to have been able to offer them a peaceful and private getaway," said the Minister.

"There has been much speculation as to the whereabouts of the couple, but we pride ourselves in being discreet and offering an unparalleled level of privacy, which is why we have refused to confirm the reports till now. We hope their stay was everything they had hoped for and we look forward to welcoming them back to our shores again in the future," added Minister Adam.

Due to the media frenzy surrounding the Duke and Duchess, the Seychelles Coast Guard was on hand to assist the couple during their stay and ensure that they, along with the other guests of the island, were able to enjoy their holiday uninterrupted. During their last day, the Duke and Duchess took the time to invite the Coast Guard crew members to the island to personally thank them for their efforts.

The head of STB, Mr. St Ange, said that this is the first time Seychelles has had this unprecedented level of attention but he was pleased that Seychelles had been able to offer them the level of seclusion they deserved for such an important occasion as their honeymoon.

"It was also pleasing to note that they left happy and clearly content with their stay," added Mr. St Ange.

High Commissioner Pillay, who also attended the wedding ceremony in Westminster Abbey on the 29th April, said: "In a world of so much turmoil they bring a welcome and much needed breath of fresh air with their warmth and humility."