Prince Charles and Camilla kick off Asia tour in Singapore
SINGAPORE — Prince Charles and his wife, Camilla, were welcomed to Singapore on Tuesday, the first stop of an 11-day trip to strengthen ties between Britain and Asian countries.
They received a ceremonial welcome on their arrival to the Southeast Asian island nation, a former British colony where they were to have an orchid named after them and attend several community events. Charles, the heir to the British throne, last visited Singapore in 1979.
“It is a matter of great pride that as Singapore has flourished over the decades, so has her friendship with the United Kingdom,” Charles said at a state banquet hosted by Singapore President Halimah Yacob.
Charles also met Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and laid a wreath at the Cenotaph, which honours soldiers who died during World Wars I and II.