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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Lumley meeting Gurkhas in Nepal | Lumley meeting Gurkhas in Nepal |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Actress Joanna Lumley has arrived in Nepal at the start of a week-long trip to meet ex-Gurkhas and their families. | Actress Joanna Lumley has arrived in Nepal at the start of a week-long trip to meet ex-Gurkhas and their families. |
| Ms Lumley, whose father was an officer in the Gurkha regiment, fronted their campaign to gain UK settlement rights. | Ms Lumley, whose father was an officer in the Gurkha regiment, fronted their campaign to gain UK settlement rights. |
| On arrival in Kathmandu, Ms Lumley was greeted by hundreds of Gurkha veterans and well-wishers armed with garlands of flowers and colourful scarves. | On arrival in Kathmandu, Ms Lumley was greeted by hundreds of Gurkha veterans and well-wishers armed with garlands of flowers and colourful scarves. |
| The actress said she was "humbled" by the visit which she said would be "such a privilege". | The actress said she was "humbled" by the visit which she said would be "such a privilege". |
| The BBC's Alastair Leithead in Kathmandu said there was "chaos" at Tribhuvan International Airport when Ms Lumley was mobbed by Gurkha veterans and supporters. | The BBC's Alastair Leithead in Kathmandu said there was "chaos" at Tribhuvan International Airport when Ms Lumley was mobbed by Gurkha veterans and supporters. |
| He added that Ms Lumley was regarded as an "absolute hero" in Nepal following her campaigns on behalf of the Gurkhas. | He added that Ms Lumley was regarded as an "absolute hero" in Nepal following her campaigns on behalf of the Gurkhas. |
| Some of those who turned out to meet her carried placards which read: "Goddess Joanna" and "Thank you." | |
| Ms Lumley said she was thankful for the overwhelming welcome, adding that, although she had never visited Nepal before, it felt like a homecoming. | |
| Accompanied by members of her family and by Peter Carroll, who started the campaign, Ms Lumley will meet Nepal's prime minister and president. | Accompanied by members of her family and by Peter Carroll, who started the campaign, Ms Lumley will meet Nepal's prime minister and president. |
| 'Amazingly emotional' | |
| "It's thrilling, it really is," Ms Lumley said at London's Heathrow Airport, prior to her flight on Saturday evening. | "It's thrilling, it really is," Ms Lumley said at London's Heathrow Airport, prior to her flight on Saturday evening. |
| "We were met by the most wonderful group of Gurkhas outside Terminal 3, with silk scarves and bunches of flowers. | "We were met by the most wonderful group of Gurkhas outside Terminal 3, with silk scarves and bunches of flowers. |
| I don't think it can be anything other than wonderful Joanna Lumley | I don't think it can be anything other than wonderful Joanna Lumley |
| "It's just incredible. I've never been to Nepal before, and this is really going to be just stunning," she added. | "It's just incredible. I've never been to Nepal before, and this is really going to be just stunning," she added. |
| "I feel so humbled by the fact I'm going to meet so many ex-Gurkhas and their families, and see where they are and how they live. | "I feel so humbled by the fact I'm going to meet so many ex-Gurkhas and their families, and see where they are and how they live. |
| "I don't think it can be anything other than wonderful." | "I don't think it can be anything other than wonderful." |
| On Tuesday Ms Lumley will visit Jhapa and Dharan to meet Gurkhas. | On Tuesday Ms Lumley will visit Jhapa and Dharan to meet Gurkhas. |
| Mr Carroll said some people were expected to walk for three days just to be there. | Mr Carroll said some people were expected to walk for three days just to be there. |
| "I think it's going to be an amazingly emotional experience," he said. | "I think it's going to be an amazingly emotional experience," he said. |
| In May, the government said all retired Gurkha soldiers - originally from Nepal - with at least four years service in the British Army, could stay in the UK. | In May, the government said all retired Gurkha soldiers - originally from Nepal - with at least four years service in the British Army, could stay in the UK. |
| Are you in Nepal? Will you be meeting Ms Lumley? Tell us your experiences using the form below. | Are you in Nepal? Will you be meeting Ms Lumley? Tell us your experiences using the form below. |
| A selection of your comments may be published, displaying your name and location unless you state otherwise in the box below. | A selection of your comments may be published, displaying your name and location unless you state otherwise in the box below. |
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| At no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. | At no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. |
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