Brunei's Local News - Brudirect.com

Bandar Seri Begawan – His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam, Her Majesty Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Hajah Saleha and Her Royal Highness Pengiran Isteri Azrinaz Mazhar hosted a state banquet for visiting HRH Prince Charles of Britain and his wife, HRH Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, at Istana Nurul Iman last night.

Also present Royal Highness Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah, the Crown Prince and Senior Minister at the Prime Minister's Office and Her Royal Highness Pengiran Anal Isteri Pengiran Anak Sarah.

The royal couple, tire here on a two-day official visit, attended an audience with the Brunei ruler prior to dinner at the Royal Banquet Hall.

Earlier in the afternoon, the visiting royals were greeted by His Royal Highness Prince Hj Al-Muhtadee Billah, the Crown Prince and Senior Minister at the Prime Minister's Office, Her Royal Highness Paduka Seri Pengiran Anak Isteri Pengiran Anak Sarah and the Ambassador-at-

Large in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Her Royal Highness Princess Hjh Magna, upon arrival at Brunei International Airport.

The heir to the British throne and his wife were then whisked away in a helicopter to the British Garrison in Seria to meet soldiers from the first Battalion of the Royal Gurkha Rifles, who are currently deployed in Brunei.

Twenty-five-year-old Lance Corporal Bhim Garbuja from the first Battalion Royal Gurkha Rifles, who served under Prince Harry in the Helmand Province of Afghanistan earlier this year, told the Prince of Wales that Prince Harry has been made honorary Gurkha Officer by the Nepalese warriors. The renowned soldiers, famed for their fearlessness and loyalty, paid the royal officer the ultimate tribute by presenting him with a Kukri — their dreaded combat knife -- as a token of their esteem.

Captain Surya Gurung from the first Battalion summed up the importance of the gift to the young royal, saying that: "We don't normally give it as a present to people."

Following that, Prince Charles, a long-time supporter of environmental causes, planted the 1,000th tree for a reforestation project in the Batas reserve area in Belait District.

Today the Prince and the Duchess will meet students and staff of University Brunei Darussalam, which has strong links to numerous British universities including the University of Wales, of which the Prince is Chancellor.

The royal couple will also witness a demonstration of a workshop for students on Arabesque, a biomorphic form of Islamic art conducted by the Prince's School of Traditional Arts, a charity organization based at the Prince's Foundation in Shoreditch, London. Prince Charles and Camilla will be departing Brunei today. -- Courtesy of The Brunei Times