King Charles cracks Tuk Tuk joke on final day of landmark Kenyan tour

03 November 2023 , 12:45

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Charles and Camilla in Mombasa (Image: Samir Hussein/WireImage)

The King and Queen rounded off their state visit to Kenya by visiting one of its most iconic monuments.

The couple had hoped to arrive in an equally iconic tuk-tuk, but torrential rain scuppered that plan. Instead Charles and Camilla posed with the eco-friendly electric vehicle outside Fort Jesus, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, gamely hopping inside after the seats were carefully wiped down for them.

"Maybe we can use this to get to the airport," joked King Charles. He laughed loudly when reporters said they would race him. Told that the vehicle can reach speeds of up to 60kph, the couple widened their eyes and giggled - especially as their driver, Eunice Karanja, accidentally started the vehicle slightly.

The tuk-tuk - a widely used form of urban transport in Mombasa - is so named to mimic the sound of a small two-cycle engine. But unlike the old models the new the electric alternatives offer a smoother ride with minimal noise.

The royals riding a Tuk Tuk (Getty Images)

This one had been covered with a traditional Kenyan print design and ‘GREAT’ branding, an international campaign to highlight the best of Britain. Inside the fort the couple vainly held brollies up to ward off the weather, Queen Camilla shrugging her shoulders and smiling at the chaos.

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Charles cracked a joke about taking a Tuk Tuk to the airport (PA)

Built on a spur of coral rock by Portuguese settlers in the late 16th century to protect the port of Mombasa, Fort Jesus is one of the most magnificent structures of its kind. Their Majesties stopped on the fort’s coral steps to hear about its rich architectural history from Principal Curator, Dr Fatma Twahir.

After the Portuguese, the Fort was held by Oman from 1631 and Britain from 1875, as a stronghold to safeguard their interests along the East African Swahili coast. In 1895, the British converted the fort into a prison, before it was turned into an historic monument and declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2011.

It was the final day of the King and Queen's visit to Kenya (Ian Vogler / Daily Mirror)

The King, walked along the harbour-facing wall to a vantage point overlooking the ocean, to appreciate the strategic positioning of the Fort, while his wife browsed at local handicraft stalls. His Majesty heard about the impact of climate change on the Fort, and the strategies that have been implemented to mitigate associated risks.

The King and Queen also met local creatives who, with UK support, are preserving local cultural practices for future generations - and admired a dance troupe. The event rounded off a highly successful four-day state visit to Kenya, the king’s first trip to a Commonwealth nation since his accession.

Russell Myers