The Duke of Cambridge spent his final day in Oman today enjoying a drink of cooling lime juice as he chatted with local fishermen in a large tent.
Prince William joined the group on a beach next to the Marina Bandar Al Rowdha near Muscat to hear how they fish, the challenges to achieving sustainability and what is being done to conserve Oman’s marine environment.
The 37-year-old royal looked at ease on the last day of his four-day tour of Kuwait and Oman as he sat down cross-legged wearing only his socks on his feet after being invited to respectfully take off his shoes.
Prince William enjoys a drink with Omani fishermen on a beach next to the Marina Bandar al Rowdha near Muscat today
The Duke of Cambridge joins a group of fishermen in Oman today to hear how they fish and the challenges to sustainability
The Duke of Cambridge speaks during his visit to meet with Omani fishermen at the Marina Bandar al Rowdha in Muscat today
William walked to a beach today where a group of Omani fisherman were mending their nets, holding the nets in their toes
William was invited to respectfully take off his shoes and sit in a tent to have a glass of cooling lime juice in Oman today
The Duke meets Omani fishermen at the Marina Bandar al Rowdha in Muscat today as they talk about sustainability
Speaking through an interpreter today, the Duke asked them about their work and even got to try his hand at helping them
William chatted with the fisherman today about the fish they most caught – a grouper – and asked about their biggest catch
When he was complemented on his handiwork, William replied: ‘You are kind, I need to come and learn off you a bit more’
William smiles and shakes hands with a fisherman during his visit to the beach next to the Marina Bandar Al Rowdha today
The Duke of Cambridge speaks with with Omani fishermen at the Marina Bandar al Rowdha in Muscat today
William chatted to the fishermen alongside traditional fishing skiffs in the 80F (27C) heat this morning, after walking to a pebbled beach where a group were mending their nets, holding the nets in their toes.
Speaking through an interpreter, William asked them about their work and even got to try helping them. When he was complemented on his handiwork, he replied: ‘You are kind, I need to come and learn off you a bit more.’
He also chatted with them about the fish they most caught – a grouper – and asked what the biggest one they had ever caught was. William exclaimed: ‘Twenty kilos – that’s a big fish!’
Earlier, he visited the Marine Science Centre of the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, which is working with the UK Government’s marine science agency Cefas to share expertise and build capacity for sustainable fishing.
During the visit to the centre, he met Omani scientists collaborating with Cefas, and took part in laboratory work, to learn more about how the UK is supporting Oman aquaculture and fisheries to become more sustainable.
William chatted to the fishermen alongside traditional fishing skiffs in the 80F (27C) heat in Muscat this morning
The 37-year-old royal looked at ease on the last day of his four-day tour of Kuwait and Oman as he drank lime juice today
The Duke spoke to the group of fishermen in Oman today who were mending their nets, holding the nets in their toes
The Duke of Cambridge arrives for his visit to the Marine Science Centre in Muscat today as part of his tour of Oman
Later, the duke will have an audience with Qaboos bin Said al Said, the Sultan of Oman, at Bait Al Barakah Palace – as well as attending an investiture at the residence of the British Ambassador to Oman, Hamish Cowell
Also today William – whose wife Kate and three children George, Charlotte and Louis are back home in England – will join young Omanis taking part in an Outward Bound Oman training exercise at the Wadi al Arbaeen.
Outward Bound was launched in Wales in 1941 to equip young people with important life skills through learning and adventures in the wild and was established in Oman in 2009.
At the wadi, William will join young people, instructors and members of the community as they take part in activities designed to develop skills including leadership, resilience, and teamwork.