Party for a Prince

As the sun sets over Castries harbor, Government House is abuzz wth activity.  The energy is palpable as maids, bartenders, special police all work together to prepare for the arrival of Prince Harry of Wales.

Even a distant, fifth-in-line Prince is still a prince, and no effort is spared to make this party a success.  Tents and boardwalks fan out across the crest of Morne Fortune. A steel pan enemble of primary school children sets up across from the smartly, uniformed Police Band.  Inside to be the first to welcome the newly arrived royalty, is a string quartet from the Saint Lucia School of Music.





The quartet is made up of three Lucian and one visiting Venezuelan teenager.  The students seem a bit nervous and shy, at first, but are soon easily greeting Ambassadors and dignitaries.  The Prime Minister and Governor General smile as they pass.  Journalists speedily photoshop images of Prince Harry disembarking from a Royal Air Force tanker only an hour before.  Trays of appetizers float by and the students put their music in order.






At some point, as if this hive of activity has simultaneously received a silent message, the photographers close their laptops and crowd the entrance with long lenses. The steelpans fall silent and the students raise their bows. Anticipation and excitement are a peak levels as the motorcade arrives and Prince Harry steps through the main entrance.