The Hindu : National : I love coming to India: Charles

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Mar 27, 2006

National

National

I love coming to India: Charles

To launch the "Prince of Wales New Food Foundation" and interact with farmers

— Photo: R.V. Moorthy

FROM ENGLAND, WITH LOVE: Prince Charles, his wife Camilla, and members of the English cricket team present a cheque to the charity `Wells for India' at the British High Commission in New Delhi on Sunday.

New Delhi: Prince Charles, heir to the British throne, and his wife, Camilla, on Sunday began a six-day visit of a country they "love" and want to come again and again.

The arrival of the 58-year-old Prince and Ms. Camilla also provided a time-out for the English cricket team two days before they start a series of one-day encounters with the hosts. The first one-dayer is at the Ferozeshah Kotla ground here.

"I love coming to India. It is emotional," he said when asked how he felt to be in the country. Asked what he found most exciting about India, the Prince, on his second visit in three years, said "Indian people."

Interacting with the cricketers after the end of the three-match Test series, Prince Charles and Ms. Camilla asked the players "how has the tour been" and "what have you done in the matches." The replies were generally that the tour had been wonderful so far, and the team was gearing for the one-day series.

Shaking hands with a man from Punjab, an elated Prince Charles said, "I am going to Punjab tomorrow. Is it raining heavily there?"

During their private visit, the royal couple will travel to Punjab and Haryana.

Prince Charles will launch the "Prince of Wales New Food Foundation," attend the Rajastan Day celebrations and interact with farmers and business leaders.

The couple will travel to Bhattmajra village in Punjab's Fatehgarh to meet farmers, some of whom have opted for organic farming. They will also visit the Punjab Agri Food Park, which provides ground support for the Prince's organic farming initiative.

From Punjab, they will travel to Jodhpur in Rajasthan, where Prince Charles will inaugurate the Water Conservation Conference. They will also visit Artiya village to see water conservation measures.

Prince Charles will attend the International Business Leaders Forum conference in Jaipur, the capital of Rajasthan.

The Prince had last visited India in October 2003.

— PTI

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