Prince Andrew visits Bahrain

Britain’s Prince Andrew has taken a trip to Bahrain.

The 53-year-old royal kicked off his official visit to the Middle Eastern state today (01.14.14) as part of the Great Campaign to boost Britain’s business and tourism.

The Duke will attend an education event, which has been organized by the British Council, where he’ll meet young entrepreneurs, and watch a performance by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.

A Buckingham Palace spokesman said: ”Following a request from Her Majesty’s government, the Duke of York will this week travel to Bahrain.

”The official visit coincides with Great British Week in Bahrain, which will highlight the bilateral relationship between the United Kingdom and Bahrain.

”His Royal Highness’s program of engagements reflects a number of the duke’s core priorities, including education, young people and skills, and entrepreneurship.”

Meanwhile, Amnesty International, a human rights organization, claims that anyone visiting Bahrain should do so with their ”eyes wide open”.

A spokeswoman was quoted by the BBC as saying: ”They have long ago reneged on promises to reform, and the country is now trapped in an endless circuit of protest-clampdown, further protest-further clampdown.

”Over recent years we’ve had police officers acquitted of murder and torture charges or given disgracefully lenient sentences, and protesters – including children – given very long prison sentences.”

The Great campaign aims at promoting the UK around the world.