Anne, Princess Royal arrives in Port Moresby when city faces water crisis

Queen Elizabeth II's only daughter, Anne Princess Royal arrived in Port Moresby Monday afternoon, April 11th on a private jet and welcome at the Jackson Airport by Prime Minister James Marape and his wife Rachelle. 

There was a guard of honour by the Papua New Guinea Defence Force personnel from  Port Moresby and Wewak who displayed the Queens colour and their regimental flags.

More than 24 hours before the arrival of the Princess and her husband Sir Timothy Laurence.

While their entourage left the Jackson Airport and headed over the Kumul flyover with sirens blazing in a convoy, residents of Port Moresby had taps running dry.

Their toilets were not flushed, they couldn't shower cook or clean their dishes.

They couldn't shower neither.

HER Royal Highness Princess Anne touched down in a dry waterless Port Moresby on Monday.

As the dry taps left thousands of city residents thirsty and in despair, the Princess Royal continued her tour in Amazing Port Moresby, visiting the Caritas Girls Technical School today and opening the National Cardiac Diagnostic Centre at the Port Moresby General Hospital later. 

As if by some magical royal touch, water began flowing in the heart of Moresby 24 hours after her arrival. 

Princess Anne first visited PNG in 1974 with her mother, Queen Elizabeth II and her late dad Prince Philip. 

She returned again in 2005 with her husband Sir Timothy Laurence.

This is her third visit to PNG, where her mother, as head of state, is well liked and revered by Papua New Guineans as 'Missus Kwin'.

On Monday, she was met with a full military guard of honor equipped with the Queen’s color and regimental color, and a 21-gun salute as she arrived in Port Moresby yesterday. 

The thunderous 21-gun salute fired as soon as she touched PNG soil and echoed as she was greeted by Prime Minister James Marape and other officials. 

The Union Jack, once the colonial flag of Papua and New Guinea, flies beside PNG Red, Black and Gold.

Princess Anne and her husband Vice-Admiral  Sir Timothy Laurence for a three-day visit to commemorate the Queen's 70th platinum jubilee. 

She was previously in Sydney, Australia before coming to PNG. She will travel back to the United Kingdom after concluding her visit. 

The Princess was immediately introduced to the scorching Port Moresby heat which was extra-hot during the day yesterday.

Nonetheless, PNGDF soldiers braved the heat and lined up to welcome the Queen’s second child. 

Straight from her arrival, Princess Anne traveled the streets of Port Moresby to go to the Government House to pay a courtesy call to Governor-General Grand Chief Sir Bob Dadae. 

The Royal couple were re-presented medals, Logohu for Princess Anne and Star of Melanesia to the Vice Admiral after initially receiving them in 2005 in her first visit to the country. 

After her meet with Sir Bob, Princess Anne went to the Airways Hotel to meet with Prime Minister Mr James Marape. 

A cocktail function then ensued with the Royal PNG Constabulary band serenading the royal party for the night. 

While the events yesterday were mainly ceremonial, the Princess will officiate at a number of events throughout the day including opening  the National Cardiac Diagnostic Centre at the Port Moresby General Hospital. 

She was also expected to visit the the historic Metoreia Hill in Hanuabada where the Union Jack was raised on November 6, 1884 by the British navy, placing Papua as a protectorate of the British Empire.

She also visits Metoreia Hill in Hanuabada, where a historic landing party raised the Union Jack and declared Papua a protectorate of England over 100 years ago.

This is the first Royal visit to PNG since Prince Andrew came in 2015 to open the Pacific Games.