The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh appeared in high spirits as they immersed themselves in Nepalese culture on Sunday.

Sophie and Edward, both 60, donned bright flower garlands as they visited Gurung community centre and museum in Ghandruk, a hill village near Pokhara, during the sixth day of their official visit to Nepal.

The Gurung villages share historic links to the British Army, and many young Nepalis from the area are recruited into the Brigade of Gurkhas, which are units of the British Army.

Sophie and Edward's visit celebrates close relations between the UK and Nepal, with King Charles previously visiting in 1998 before Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip trip in 1961.

Sophie, dressed in hiking gear, mirrored the locals and put her hands together to greet community members during the tour.

Meanwhile, Edward, who also opted for practical attire in a khaki puffer jacket and navy trousers, followed suit while walking behind his wife.

Edward, who was made Duke of Edinburgh in 2023, and his wife, also visited the Annapurna Conservation Area in Nepal yesterday as part of an official trip to the Asian country.

The Annapurna range is part of the Himalayas, less than 200 miles from Mount Everest, and the region has historic links with the Gurkhas.

Meanwhile, the main Annapurna mountain is, at 26,545 feet tall, the 10th highest peak on Earth, and the overall conservation area covers a little under 3,000 square miles near Nepal's border with Tibet.

Earlier in the week, the couple saw some of the latest Gurkha recruits initiated into the regiment.

Both Edward and Sophie looked on as the 274 new soldiers swore an oath of allegiance in the nearby city of Pokhara before the Union Flag and a portrait of King Charles.

Speaking to the recruits, the Duke said: 'Thank you for choosing to serve in the Brigade of Gurkhas in the British Army, and thank you for swearing allegiance to His Majesty today.

'You are joining a regimental family with strong traditions and a reputation for loyalty, service and courage.

'Gurkhas have served the crown for over 209 years. This now becomes your heritage and your responsibility to uphold.'

The soldiers are currently on the way to their new base in Catterick, North Yorkshire.

Edward said: 'You will be living and serving a long way from home, which makes your decision even more impressive, and again, on behalf of King Charles and all the British people, we really do thank you and admire your decision.

'Finally, always remember, you are a soldier in the British army, but you are a son of Nepal. Be proud of both.'

The couple have been in Nepal on a six-day visit since Tuesday 4 February.

During their time in the Himalayan nation, they have visited hospitals and a care home for Gurkha veterans, met Duke of Edinburgh award participants, and were seen holding hands as they visited Godawari National Botanic Garden to plant a tree, next to one planted by his late parents, Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.

It comes after Prince Edward and Sophie made history by visiting the annual Gurkha attestation parade on the fourth day of their visit to Nepal.

The royal couple met the two per cent of young Nepalis who passed the gruelling and highly competitive selection process to become part of the elite Brigade of Gurkhas.

Mother-of-two Sophie - wearing a stylish floral A-line dress with blazer draped over her shoulders - was pictured hugging and taking selfies with the families of the new soldiers, before exchanging sweet moments with local children at the British Gurkha Camp.

The royal couple were on the fourth day of their official tour of the Himalayan nation to celebrate its ties to the United Kingdom, and made history as the first royals to have witnessed the parade.

The duke and duchess looked on as the 274 recruits - selected from more than 13,000 applicants - took the oath of allegiance, saluting a portrait of the King and touching the Union flag.

Edward told the recruits, who will start flying to Catterick Garrison, in North Yorkshire, from Monday.

He said: 'You will be living and serving a long way from home, which makes your decision even more impressive, and again, on behalf of King Charles and all the British people, we really do thank you and admire your decision.

'Finally, always remember, you are a soldier in the British army, but you are a son of Nepal. Be proud of both.'

After the ceremony, the duke spoke with some of the young recruits and their emotional families, hearing that one family had travelled 18 hours to be there, and telling another: 'You must be feeling very proud as well. He's done very well to do this.'

Earlier, Edward and Sophie presented 38 Coronation Medals and two long service and good conduct medals to Gurkha staff on parade.

They then inspected the Band of the Brigade of Gurkhas, who played two songs by Lady Gaga as the duke and duchess inspected the ranks of new recruits, congratulating them as they went.

The couple listened from a dais as Buddhist and Hindu prayers were given before the attestation oath.

Aftewards, they signed the visitors book and were presented with a Gurkha garland.

The parade is the end of the highly competitive selection process where young Nepalis will formally join the British Army

The parade celebrates over 200 years of partnership between the UK and Nepal and the service of Gurkhas in the British Army.

About 13,000 Nepalis apply and only 270 graduate. The visit celebrates close relations between the UK and Nepal. Previously, King Charles visited Nepal in 1998, and Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip visited in 1986.

On Thursday, the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh heard about the climate challenges of Nepal on the third day of their trip to the Himalayan region.

The couple arrived in the country on Tuesday, ready for a six-day trip, appeared loved up as they held hands during a visit to the National Botanic Garden in Godawari on Thursday.

Sophie looked bright and breezy in a long white skirt which featured a red floral print and her stylish ensemble was paired with a chic white blazer.

Sophie completed her outfit with chunky wedge shoes and she accessorised with designer sunglasses.

The couple held hands as they walked down a flight of stone stairs after visiting the site's orchid house, with views over the Kathmandu Valley.

They planted a tree in a Nepali garden, next to two that were planted by Edwards parents, the late Queen and Duke of Edinburgh in 1986.

While shovelling the soil, Edward said: 'That's the best bit of exercise I've had for ages, prompting Sophie to offer some words of encouragement: 'Keep going, darling.'

They then took turns watering the tree, with Sophie, who went second, saying: 'This is going to make all the difference. May the tree grow.'

The royal pair appeared in great spirits as they later visited the Integrated Mountain Development Living Mountain Lab, in Kathmandu.

Sophie expressed concern about the amount of waste left by climbers on Nepal's most famous landmark Mount Everest.

Sophie asked if any of the money paid by people to climb the mountain was 'being earmarked for dealing with some of the issues'.

As they toured the site the royals heard about the climate challenges facing Nepal and the Hindu Kush Himalaya.

ICIMOD scientists showed the couple how they are developing technologies for climate-resilient agriculture, sustainable land and water that can be applied in the region.

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

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

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.

Later in the day, the couple visited the Veterans Residential Home in the Gurkha Welfare Trust Welfare Centre, Pokhara, where they met with The King's Gurkha Orderly Officers MVO, who previously served under Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace.

The two met with Ash Kumari Tamang, a 104-year-old Gurkhan widow, at the Veterans Residential Home in the Gurkha Welfare Trust Welfare Centre.

They then signed the Visitors Book before going on to grab a picture posing with Gurkha veterans, widows and staff at the centre.