Chris Jackson/Getty Images(NEW YORK) — Real-life royalty met music royalty Wednesday when Britain’s Prince Harry and Rihanna met at events in Barbados celebrating the nation’s 50 years of independence from British rule.
Harry, 32, first met Rihanna, a Barbados native, at the Toast the Nation event on Wednesday afternoon. He later joined Rihanna on stage for a concert to celebrate the country’s independence.
Prince Harry meets @rihanna at today’s Toast to the Nation marking 50 years of Independence for Barbados 🇧🇧 #50Barbados #RoyalVisitBarbados pic.twitter.com/ejmt1r2IDl
— Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) November 30, 2016
Prince Harry and @rihanna join the stage as tonight’s concert celebrating 50 years of Independence in Barbados begins 🇧🇧 #RoyalVisitBarbados pic.twitter.com/dgW8LCwHs9
— Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) December 1, 2016
Harry visited Barbados as part of his 15-day royal tour of seven Caribbean nations on behalf of his grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II.
“I am honored to be here representing my grandmother, the queen, as we celebrate the historic milestone of 50 years of independence of this beautiful nation,” Harry told the crowd in Barbados. “Her Majesty visited your beautiful country on the eve of independence in early 1966. The people of Barbados have held a special place in her heart ever since.”
Prince Harry speaks to an audience of thousands in Barbados before tonight’s concert celebrating 50 years of Independence #50Barbados pic.twitter.com/8NdvrdapAt
— Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) December 1, 2016
Queen Elizabeth also sent out a special tweet to show her support for Barbados.
Read the full message from The Queen to the people of Barbados in the nation’s 50th year of Independence https://t.co/PNPdyHr0GV
— The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) November 30, 2016
Harry’s appearance with Rihanna onstage came after a busy day during which Harry visited a pediatric ward at the nation’s largest hospital, The Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Bridgetown.
Harry, the fifth-in-line to the British throne, gave out his trademark hugs and stopped to play thumb war with a little boy who had been hit by a car and was slowly recovering.
A hug for Prince Harry in the Paediatric Ward at The Queen Elizabeth Hospital, which The Queen visited in 1966 #RoyalVisitBarbados pic.twitter.com/sMsr9EDpM8
— Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) November 30, 2016
Harry’s unscheduled visit to the hospital, which he’d seen on his last visit in 2010, also included a stop to discuss the hospital’s work on HIV and AIDS, one day ahead of World AIDS Day.
He kept another group of orphans giggling at the Nightingale Children’s Center, which houses 90 children, including those with special needs. Harry showed his inner child by kneeling down and embracing the children and even sticking out his tongue to elicit laughter from the disadvantaged kids.
📽 Prince Harry visits Nightengale Children’s Home in Barbados #RoyalVisitBarbados pic.twitter.com/zDaZo3jrMM
— Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) November 30, 2016
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