Duchess Sophie and Prince Edward give rare insight into their marriage on Nepal trip

Fortunately, it didn’t leave a mark on her white floral dress. The duke and duchess were joined at the National Botanic Garden by Nepal’s Foreign Minister and the state minister for Environment.

Sophie met a group of schoolchildren and enlisted their help to plant a new rhododendron.

They quickly surrounded her - with the dog making a brief reappearance - and moved the soil with their hands.

“You’re doing a great job,” she told them. “This is so sweet.”

The duchess asked them: “Will you come and visit my rhododendron? Will you help look after it?”

At the Orchid House, Edward launched a new botanic training scheme that will see young Nepalis trained in horticulture with the Royal Botanic Gardens Edinburgh (RGBE), of which the King is a patron. RBGE has collaborated with Nepali botanists for over 25 years in biodiversity research, conservation and sustainable use of plant resources.

Next, they toured the nearby “Living Mountain Lab” – a mountain technology demonstration and training site—at the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) to see how experts are helping Nepal and the wider Himalayas adapt to the climate crisis.

They were met by Dr Pema Gyamtsho, Director General of ICIMOD, and Izabella Koziell, deputy director general, who walked them through the gardens, giving an overview of their work and the climate challenges facing Nepal and the Hindu Kush Himalaya. ICIMOD scientists will present the technologies for climate-resilient agriculture, sustainable land and water management, renewable energy and flood risk management.

Stopping looking at a flowering orchid, the duke and duchess were told it is eaten with vegetables.

Surprised that the flower was edible, Sophie asked: “You eat them?”

“Yes,” the guide replied, prompting Edward to laugh and say: “You need to make sure you eat the right one.”

“I’m not sure I’ll go home and eat any of ours then,” Sophie said.

After their walk, Sophie and Edward received a briefing from David Potter, ICIMOD’s Head of Regional and Global Affairs, on local communities' main environmental challenges.

The couple also heard from a group of local entrepreneurs working on developing solutions, including waste.

Sophie asked: “Do people have to pay a lot of money to climb Everest? Is any of that earmarked for clearing any of that [rubbish left on mountain up?”

She heard most expeditions prefer to pay the fines rather than spend the time clearing waste.

This afternoon, Sophie and Edward will fly to the mountain region of Pokhara, to see how the UK provides support in Nepal to those who have served in the British Army, through different charities.