Prince Edward meets a tortoise that is 192 years old. His mother, Queen Elizabeth, met one in 1947.
Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh, recently had the pleasure of spending time with Jonathan, a 192-year-old tortoise, on an official visit to the tropical British overseas territory of St. Helena. It was a wonderful meeting between two different groups.
A picture of Prince Edward’s meeting with the tortoise at Plantation House, the official home of the governor of St. Helena, adds another part to the long and interesting history between the royal family and this amazing animal.
As the youngest brother of King Charles, Prince Edward is now in a very select group of royal family members who have met Jonathan. His parents, Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip, as well as his grandparents, King George VI and the Queen Mother, and his late aunt, Princess Margaret, were all important people who came before him.
Jonathan has a long history with the British royal family. It all started in 1947, when Queen Elizabeth, who was then a princess, met the old tortoise while she was on vacation in St. Helena. Queen Elizabeth’s first meeting with Jonathan was the start of a long-lasting relationship. Her family, including her sister and parents, were also there.
In 1957, Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, met Jonathan for the first time. He took a picture of the tortoise, which was already 126 years old and still going strong against all chances.
The visit of Prince Edward to St. Helena is especially important because he is the first royal family member to set foot on the island since Princess Anne’s tour there in 2002.
Prince Edward went on a two-day trip to South Africa before his trip to St. Helena. In Pretoria, he met with animal protection groups. Prince Edward went to a President’s Award Reception and explored Pretoria Garden, an urban oasis full of different bird species. This showed how committed he is to youth development and respect.
Prince Edward will interact with the people who live on St. Helena while he is there, highlighting the island’s diverse wildlife and lively culture. But his first meeting on the island was with the famous Jonathan, who stood for the long-lasting relationship between royalty and this famous resident.
Jonathan has been living on St. Helena for 142 years, making him the “oldest land animal in the world,” according to a post on the social media site X that the island’s government shared.
Jonathan has lived a very long time, making him the oldest known living land animal. This title was confirmed by the Smithsonian Magazine. Jonathan is thought to have been born in 1832, which is much younger than the average life span of a Seychelles giant turtle. This shows how strong and healthy he is.
Given to St. Helena by the Seychelles around 1882, Jonathan has been on the island for a very long time, longer than many governors and U.S. presidents.
King Charles is getting treatment for a swollen prostate at the same time as Prince Edward’s trip abroad, which is a reminder of the family’s current problems. The royal family is also waiting for Kate Middleton to fully recover from surgery on her abdomen. They are hopeful that she will be healthy and active again soon.
Throughout Prince Edward’s trip, he will meet people from the past and the present. His meeting with Jonathan is a powerful reminder of the timeless links that connect people to nature, spanning generations and borders.
