The Duke of Edinburgh hosted an elegant lunch at Lancaster House on February 25, bringing together foreign ministers from Central Asia in a rare gathering.
The event saw ministers from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan meet under one roof, with HRH at the center of discussions highlighting the UK’s ongoing engagement in the region.
The lunch did not also serve as an inspiring platform for young Central Asian students, who were given the opportunity to meet the Duke and hear first-hand about Britain’s initiatives in education, cultural exchange and international cooperation.
Programs such as Chevening, El-Yurt Umidi and the Oxford Hub were brought into focus as pillars supporting talent, leadership and global connections in the region.
Duchess Sophie’s husband engaged warmly with the participants and fielded questions from ministers and students alike.
Joining HRH were the five Central Asian Foreign Ministers with Lord Alderdice, adding an extra layer of gravitas to a lunch that mixed diplomacy, education and international friendship.
