Prince Edward Meets 192-Year-Old Tortoise His Mother Queen Elizabeth Met in 1947

Mar. 15, 2025

Prince Edward meeting Jonathan the tortoise and members of the royal family with the tortoise in 1947.Photo:St Helena – Diana Jarvis

St Helena – Diana Jarvis

Prince Edwardjust spent time with a living legend — Jonathan, a 192-year-old tortoise.

During an official visit to tropical British overseas territory St. Helena on Tuesday, the Duke of Edinburgh, 59, was photographed with the tortoise at Plantation House, the official residence of the governor of St. Helena.

King Charles’ youngest brother is the most recent member of the royal family to meet the 192-year-old tortoise. Prince Edward joins the likes of his late parents,Queen ElizabethandPrince Philip, his grandparents,King George VIand theQueen Mother, and his late aunt,Princess Margaret.

The Duke of Edinburgh with Jonathan the 192-year-old tortoise in St. Helena.St Helena – Diana Jarvis

Prince Edward is the first member of the royal family to visit St. Helena since his sister, Princess Anne, who toured the island in 2002.

The recent introduction between Prince Edward and the animal follows the Duke of Edinburgh’s two-day trip to South Africa, where he met with animal conservation groups in Pretoria.

During his visit, Prince Edward visited Pretoria Garden, an urban space home to over 220 bird species, along with attending a President’s Award Reception, which recognizes winners of the Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award.

Jonathan with members of the royal family in St. Helena in 1947.St Helena – Diana Jarvis

His visit to St. Helena, which wraps up on Friday, will also see the Duke meet with members of the community and celebrate the island’s biodiversity and culture.

However, his first stop on the island was to meet the famed tortoise.

In apost shared on X, formerly known as Twitter, Tuesday, the St. Helena Government said Jonathan is the “oldest land animal in the world,” and has been living on the island for 142 years.

Prince Edward meets Jonathan at Plantation House.St Helena – Diana Jarvis

Jonathan’s age is estimated based on the idea that he was fully mature when he was taken to the island after being gifted to St. Helena from the Seychelles around 1882.

A royal visit of St. Helena in 1947.St Helena – Diana Jarvis

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Prince Edward’s overseas tour comes amid King Charles’treatment for an enlarged prostatethis week. On Friday, the 75-year-old monarch wasphotographed for the first timesince his surgery was announced, riding in the backseat of a car en route to the royal family’s Sandringham estate in Norfolk withQueen Camilla.

source: people.com