Prince Edward and Sophie welcomed on second leg of Caribbean tour

The Earl and Countess of Wessex have met dancers, athletes and national birds on the second leg of their Caribbean tour.

The Earl and Countess of Wessex planted a tree to mark the Queen's 70-year reign

The royals were given a warm reception as they landed in St Vincent and the Grenadines on the tour to mark the Platinum Jubilee.

But later a small group gathered to protest against British colonialism.

Ahead of the trip, the couple postponed their planned visit to Grenada after discussions with the island's leaders.

Previously, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge cancelled a visit to a Belize village on their Caribbean tour axed after opposition from locals.

The couple landed in Saint Vincent and The Grenadines on Saturday for a one-day tour of the island


As Prince Edward and Sophie landed on the island, they were greeted by scouts and girl guides as well as their second red carpet on the tour and a guard of honour.

Governor general Dame Susan Dougan and acting prime minister Montgomery Daniel welcomed Prince Edward, the Queen's youngest son.

The royal couple are on a week-long Caribbean tour

Young people who have recently completed their Gold Duke of Edinburgh award met the couple


The Countess of Wessex visited a community college to watch a dance performance and met two groups - Persons With Disabilities and the Society of and for the Blind - in her role as a global ambassador for the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness.

Meanwhile, Prince Edward met Commonwealth Games athletes and watched a race held in honour of the Platinum Jubilee and a T10 women's cricket match.

On arrival they watched their second guard of honour of the tour

Protesters held banners saying "down with neo-colonialism" on the second day of their tour


But about 15 protesters displayed banners reading "end to colonialism" and "£CompensationNow" as the couple travelled to Government House in St Vincent and the Grenadines on Saturday.

This comes after the couple were warned to avoid "phoney sanctimony" over slavery by the Antigua and Barbuda Reparations Support Commission.

The couple also visited an aviary at the botanical gardens, and planted a tree to mark the Queen's 70-year reign.

St Vincent's national bird, the Amazona guildingii, nearly knocked the Countess of Wessex's sunglasses off during a visit to the botanical gardens


The Countess of Wessex held a parrot at Government House

×