Princess Beatrice completes Inca Trail

Nov 13, 2007, 13:30 GMT

Britain\'s Princess Beatrice (C) , daughter of Prince Andrew and the Duchess of York, Sarah Ferguson, visits the Sacsayhuaman fortress in Cuzco, Peru, 31 October 2007, where she observes an Andean Condor. EPA/Fernando Zora Carvajal EDITORIAL USE ONLY

Britain's Princess Beatrice has completed the Inca Trail in Peru.

The 19-year-old royal - who is currently on a gap year before enrolling in university - arrived at the lost city of Machu Picchu after successfully tackling the famous gruelling hike.

The trail is the first part of Beatrice's adventure across South America. She is also planning to spend some time working in New York.

Beatrice - who is the eldest daughter of Prince Andrew and his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson - has been joined on the trip by close family friend Nikolai Bismarck.

Her boyfriend Dave Clark - who works for Sir Richard Branson's Virgin company - unfortunately couldn't get the time off work to accompany his royal girlfriend.

A source told Britain's Daily Mail newspaper: "There was no question of Dave going because he has a full-time job and the arrangements have been made by Nikolai, whom Beatrice has known since they were toddlers."

Beatrice and Nikolai are now in Brazil and have been spotted on Rio de Janeiro's Copacabana Beach.

The princess' trip will be briefly interrupted next week as she is due to fly back to London for a service at Westminster Abbey to mark her grandmother Queen Elizabeth's 60th wedding anniversary on Monday (19.11.07).

(C) BANG Media International