The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall will visit Singapore, Malaysia and India
The visits will highlight key themes including celebrating community, cultural diversity and promoting business innovation.
The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall will visit Singapore, Malaysia and India. Photo credit: Hugo Burnand
Their Royal Highnesses’ visit, which is at the request of the British Government, will celebrate the U.K.’s partnership with these Commonwealth Nations on shared priorities in advance of the Commonwealth Summit in April 2018.
The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall will begin the tour in Singapore on 31st October. Their Royal Highnesses will be welcomed by President Halimah Yacob at a ceremony at the Istana- the official residence and office of the President of Singapore. Their Royal Highnesses will also meet Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong before attending an official dinner.
Key events in the programme will include a meeting with leaders from Singapore’s ten national religions in order to highlight Singapore’s innovative approach to community cohesion; an event with representatives from British companies working in Singapore to see how a collaborative approach to research and innovation is creating jobs in both countries; a wreath-laying ceremony to acknowledge the sacrifices made by British, Singaporean and Commonwealth personnel during the two World Wars and other conflicts and an event to celebrate close UK-Singapore cultural collaborations.
The Duchess of Cornwall will also visit a school to meet young people aspiring to enter The Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition, which is the world’s oldest schools’ international writing competition, managed by The Royal Commonwealth Society since 1883. The Duchess of Cornwall will present certificates to the 2017 winners and runners up, on behalf of Her Majesty The Queen, at a formal Awards Ceremony at Buckingham Palace in November.
On 3rd November, The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall will start their visit to Malaysia in the capital city of Kuala Lumpur. Key events in the programme include a Gala Dinner celebrating 60 years of diplomatic ties between the UK and Malaysia, attended by senior dignitaries in Malaysia as well as key figures from business, arts, culture and media. The programme also includes a celebration of the Commonwealth in the lead-up to the Commonwealth Summits to be held in the U.K in 2018 and Malaysia in 2020.
The Prince and The Duchess will visit Sarawak and Perak. His Royal Highness will see first-hand the work being done to promote wildlife conservation and the protection of biodiversity. Their Royal Highnesses will also meet members of Sarawak’s diverse indigenous communities. The Duchess of Cornwall will meet representatives of Purple Lily, a non-Governmental Organisation committed to inspiring and empowering disadvantaged women and young girls by providing life skills training and financial education.
Their Royal Highnesses will end their visit to Malaysia in Georgetown, Penang, originally named Prince of Wales Island. The Prince and The Duchess will have the opportunity to meet members of the different religious and ethnic communities who live side-by-side in the UNESCO World Heritage site, and to experience its rich cultural heritage.
On 8th November The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall will visit India. In addition to a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Their Royal Highnesses will undertake various engagements to celebrate the UK/India Year of Culture.