Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh Visit Gurkha Welfare Trust Residential Home in Nepal
Prince Edward and Duchess Sophie visited residents at the Gurkha Welfare Trust’s (GWT) Residential Home in Pokhara on 6 February 2025. The visit was part of their five-day official tour of Nepal, which commenced on 4 February.
The royal couple received a warm welcome from 104-year-old Ash Kumari Tamang, a resident of the facility since 2011. Ash Kumari is the widow of late Rifleman Kalu Tamang, a Gurkha soldier who served with the 4th Gurkha Rifles during the Second World War. Enlisting in January 1943, he was deployed to Italy as a reinforcement after his battalion was captured by German forces near Tobruk. Following the war, he was demobilised in April 1945 and returned to his home village in Gorkha.
After his military service, Kalu Tamang supported his family of seven through subsistence farming, but with no stable source of income, life remained challenging. The GWT provided him with a pension until his passing in 2006, after which it was transferred to his widow, Ash Kumari. When she became unable to care for herself, the Trust took her in as a resident at its facility, which is dedicated to supporting Gurkha ex-servicemen, their dependents, and their communities, ensuring they live with dignity.
“ The visit by the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh reinforces the continued close relationship that has existed for over 200 years between Nepal and UK. We are delighted to be able to showcase the vital work that GWT does in supporting our Gurkha veteran community in Nepal.” Al Howard, CEO, The Gurkha Welfare Trust
The visit by the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh underscores the royal family’s longstanding support for the GWT. His Majesty King Charles III serves as the Trust’s Patron, reaffirming his commitment to the cause following his accession in September 2022. As part of a comprehensive review of over 1,000 royal patronages and charity presidencies, members of the Royal Family continue to maintain close ties with numerous charities, military organisations, and public service bodies in the UK and across the Commonwealth. The GWT is honoured to retain the patronage of the King.
King Charles III’s Enduring Support for the Gurkha Welfare Trust
His Majesty has a deep-rooted connection with the Trust, having previously served as Patron of the Gurkha Welfare Fund, which coordinated the activities of the GWT and related organisations in Canada, the USA, and beyond. In 2009, following structural changes within these organisations, the then Prince of Wales graciously agreed to become Patron of the Trust, a role he continues to uphold as King.
A letter from Buckingham Palace recently confirmed this commitment:
“I am pleased to confirm that His Majesty would be delighted to retain the Patronage of The Gurkha Welfare Trust. It is my great pleasure to share this news with you, to mark the first anniversary of Their Majesties’ Coronation.”
The Trust operates two Residential Homes, in Pokhara and Dharan providing round-the-clock care to Gurkha veterans and widows who would otherwise struggle to live alone. With no comparable facility in Nepal, they set the standard of care for the elderly. The Residential Homes also provide inpatient hubs for our Rehabilitation Services with bed spaces dedicated to rehabilitating beneficiaries on a short-term residential basis. The GWT Residential Homes in Pokhara and Dharan came into operation in 2010 and 2014 respectively.