Wills and Kate visit Singapore

by monobi

A royal visit highlights the enduring friendship between Singapore and the UK.  Singapore is the first stop for Britain's Duke and Duchess of Cambridge on a Diamond Jubilee visit to SE Asia.  See an article by the Straits Times for some excellent photos of the initial stages of the visit.  Kate looks absolutely stunning in the beautiful National Orchid Garden and Prince William is a wonderful ambassador for his country.

Since 1957 Orchid Hybrids have been bred and named after famous people.  One was named after Princess Diana (Dendrobium memoria Princess Diana);  she was due to visit Singapore just two weeks after her fatal accident, and so she never saw it.  It must have been a poignant moment for William when he first came upon it!  She died 15 years ago on 31st August 1997 - also Hari Merdeka, or Merdeka Day, the anniversary of Malaysian independence.

I have heard that Singapore is one of the few places in the world where the Queen has been able to fully relax, particularly when hosted by the venerable Lee Kuan Yew, widely recognised as the founding father of modern Singapore.  Local enthusiasm for the current royal visit is perhaps an indication that the warm links between the two nations will continue for future generations.