As part of a tour to celebrate the United Kingdom’s partnership with Commonwealth nations on shared priorities, Prince Charles and Duchess Camilla will make their maiden visit to Malaysia on 3 November this year.
The tour, which is held ahead of the Commonwealth Summit in April 2018 and will highlight key themes such as community, cultural diversity and business innovation, will kick off in Singapore on 31 October before the royals head to Malaysia for their second stop.
Upon touchdown in Kuala Lumpur, the royal couple are scheduled to appear at events such as a gala dinner to celebrate 60 years of diplomatic ties between the UK and Malaysia. The programme also includes a celebration of the Commonwealth in the lead-up to the Commonwealth Summits to be held in the UK in 2018 and Malaysia in 2020.
“It is a momentous year for the UK and Malaysia as we commemorate 60 years of diplomatic relationship. The official visit to Malaysia by The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall will undoubtedly be the highlight of the celebration,” said Her Excellency Vicki Treadell CMG MVO, the British High Commissioner to Malaysia.
The Prince and the Duchess will also visit Sarawak and Perak, where they will witness the ongoing conservation work in the states and meet members of Sarawak’s indigenous communities. The Duchess of Cornwall will also meet Purple Lily representatives, a non-governmental organisation dedicated to empowering disadvantaged females by providing life skills training and financial education.
Finally, Prince Charles and Duchess Camilla will end the Malaysian leg of their tour – fittingly – in George Town, Penang, which was once named the Prince of Wales Island. There, they will meet members of the different religious and ethnic communities who call the island home and experience its rich cultural heritage.
Noting that the royal visit would help spotlight the conservation work in Perak and Sarawak as well as the engagement on shared agendas, Her Excellency Vicki Treadell said, “We are also very pleased that Their Royal Highnesses will have the opportunity to meet Malaysians and experience the rich cultural diversity and heritage here.”
After the Malaysian tour, the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall will fly to India on 8 November to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi and celebrate the UK/India Year of Culture.
