Prince Harry is dwarfed by stilt-walkers before suffering FIFTH mishap of Caribbean trip as he drops medal during ceremony
Royal left feeling two foot tall after series of gaffes during first week of his 15-day tour
PRINCE Harry has been overshadowed by stilt walkers and a FIFTH mishap of his Caribbean trip last night.
The Prince pinned a medal on a pensioner only for it drop off again during an investiture ceremony.
Harry, who has had intensive briefing and practice sessions in presenting official awards, was handing out Queen’s birthday honours in the Caribbean nation of Grenada.
The British Empire Medal was pinned to the chest of retired farmer Reginald Sparks but it dropped to the floor as Harry stepped back.
The Prince bent down to pick it up off the floor and put it back on Reginald, 72.
And if things could not get more comical, Prince Harry found himself having to look up to stilt walkers and carry out neck-aching small talk.
And it was not the first time he has been left red-faced during the first week of his 15-day tour.
He was left embarrassed after the Prime Minister of Antigua asked him and new girlfriend Meghan Markle, 35, to honeymoon in his country.
He was then arrived early on the island of Saint Kitts – to find no welcome party was there to greet him.
He was forced to partake in a moment’s silence for controversial politician Fidel Castro.
And to top it off on Saturday the ship that he is travelling and staying on around the islands broke down, meaning he had to spend an unscheduled night on a mystery island.
Harry, 32, has undertaken a number of investitures during a 15-day tour of seven Caribbean nations.
Until this tour, his only other investiture was in Nepal earlier this year when he gave the MBE to a Gurkha soldier.
He also gave Archbishop Desmond Tutu an honorary award in Cale Town last year.
Harry handed out honours last night on behalf of the Queen at a reception in Grenada hosted by the country’s Governor General Dame Cecile La Grenade and attended by its Prime Minister Keith Mitchell.
Similar receptions in other countries on the tour have been held at Government House, the official residence of the Queen’s representative in countries where she is head of state.
But last night’s reception was held at a five star hotel, Spice Island Beach Resort, because Grenada’s Government House had never been fully repaired since sustaining severe damage in Hurricane Ivan, which destroyed thousands of homes on the island in September 2004.
In a speech at the reception, Harry announced that the Queen was offering nine scholarships, one for each of her Caribbean Commonwealth realms, offering young workers in the hospitality industry the chance to train at Buckingham Palace for six weeks next year.
Harry said: “This has been another memorable and inspiring day on this wonderful tour. Thank you for such a warm, unforgettable and colourful Grenadian welcome.”
He also joked that he should have been wearing the national colours, he added: “I only wish I was wearing either a green, red or yellow shirt! Next time!”
Earlier in the day the royal met with some local stilts walkers on the beach as he was greeted by a colourful parade.
The warm welcome to Grenada was at the Coral Restoration Project, where he learned how gardeners are rebuilding the coral reef.