Diamond Jubilee Tour: The Duke & Duchess of Cambridge visit Asia

Day 1 (September 11)

They arrived quietly without cameras present at Singapore in the mid-afternoon, Singapore time. They immediately proceeded to the Botanical Gardens where an Orchid was named after them. They attended an official dinner with the President of Singapore and his wife among other dignitaries upon their arrival {Photos}. Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, reviewed the honor guard {Photos}. The future King & Queen of the United Kingdom also visited the Botanical Gardens where they had an orchid named after them {Photos}

Day 2 (September 12)

The Royal couple’s first engagement on was a visit to the Gardens by the Bay, where they first visited one of the two large glass domes – in effect, huge conservatories – at the Gardens, in which is housed an artificial rainforest mountain. The couple will be accompanied by a guide as they descend the artificial mountain on foot, who will explain the flora and fauna contained in the dome. The couple will then visit the Colonial Garden, which is outside of the dome, where they will be invited to plant a tree.

Day 3 (September 13)


Catherine, The Duchess of Cambridge and Prince William, Duke of Cambridge visit Kranji Commonwealth War Cemetery {Photos}. Catherine, The Duchess of Cambridge also delivered a speech at at Hospis Malaysia {Photos}{Video} They also attended an official dinner hosted by Malaysia's Head of State Sultan Abdul {Photos}

Day 4 (September 14)

Catherine, The Duchess of Cambridge attended a tea party at the British High Commission {Photos}. They also visited an Assyakirin Mosque {Photos}


Day 5 (September 15)

Prince William and Catherine, The Duchess of Cambridge visited the  Borneo Rainforest Research Center{Source} before boarding a plane for the next phase of their tour to  Honiara

Day 2 (September 16)

They arrived on the Solomon Islands, where they appeared in a parade {Video}. The future King & Queen visited the Governer-General of the Solomon Islands home, where they wore traditional island dress {Photos}.  Before leaving for the final leg of their tour, Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge attended a Women's Reception at the Leaf House, Commonwealth Youth South Pacific Centre {Photos}

Day 3 (September 17)

They participated in a call on Prime Minister and members of the Cabinet at the Prime Minister’s Office before departing for Tuvanipupu Island. The Royal pair arrived on Tuvanipupu Island, where they visited a cultural village. 

After their visit to the cultural village, they split briefly. The Duke attended a conference given for young leaders from the Commonwealth nations in the Pacific, where he gave a few brief remarks and awarded six Duke of Edinburgh gold awards to Solomon Islanders and one awardee from Vanuatu. Meanwhile, The Duchess attended a reception for Solomon Island women’s groups.

After performing their seperate duties, the future rulers of the UK rejoined one another to visit a memorial in Honiara to the Coast Watchers, who were courageous Allied and Commonwealth soldiers and Solomon Islanders who hid along the coast of the nation’s 1,000 islands to pass on intelligence about Japanese military movements during the Second World War. After paying their respects, they attended a lunch reception hosted by the Prime Minister in aid of Solomon Islands charities, including representatives of the Diamond Jubilee Trust. After the luncheon, they boarded a flight to the final leg of their tour.

The Royal couple proceeded  by boat to the island of Marapa, where they first visited a village before travelling on a traditional war canoe the short distance between Marapa and Tavanipupu. On arrival on Tavanipupu, The Duke and Duchess were met by a local musical and dance welcome, before retiring privately for the night at a resort hotel. 

Day 2 (September 18)

Their Royal Highnesses traveled back to Honiara, where they will participate in a departure ceremony at Honiara airport. The couple bid farewell to Solomon Islands and travel to Tuvalu.

The Duke and Duchess were met on their arrival at Funafuti airport by a traditional welcome, where they were  received by the Governor-General and a Guard of Honour – as befitting their status. The Duke and Duchess will be carried off their aircraft to the welcoming ceremony, where The Duke will give a speech on behalf of The Queen to her people in Tuvalu.

Following the welcoming ceremony, the Royal couple proceeded around Funafuti island, where they visited the primary school and the university campus and they  stoped to view a coconut tree planted by The Queen during her 1982 visit. The Duke and Duchess  also viewed a canoe race and watch a local ball game before finally ending up at a mocked-up traditional Tuvaluan village, where the couple will view demonstrations of traditional crafts and cooking.

In the evening, The Duke and Duchess attended a traditional dinner, hosted by the Governor-General, where Their Royal Highnesses will have a chance to sample traditional Tuvaluan food before watching a performance of local dances. The couple subsequently retired privately for the night, the first time that a Member of the Royal Family has stayed overnight on an island of Tuvalu.


Their Royal Highnesses travel back to Honiara, where they will participate in a departure ceremony at Honiara airport. The couple will bid farewell to Solomon Islands and travel to Tuvalu.

The last Royal visit to Tuvalu took place in 1982, when The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh travelled on Her Majesty’s Yacht Britannia to visit this most striking and remote of nations. The Duke and Duchess feel very honoured to have been asked by Her Majesty to represent her to the people of Tuvalu on the occasion of the Diamond Jubilee. The Duke and Duchess will be met on their arrival at Funafuti airport by a traditional welcome, where they will be received by the Governor-General and a Guard of Honour – as befitting their status. The Duke and Duchess will be carried off their aircraft to the welcoming ceremony, where The Duke will give a speech on behalf of The Queen to her people in Tuvalu.

Following the welcoming ceremony, the Royal couple will proceed around Funafuti island, where they will visit the primary school and the university campus and they will stop to view a coconut tree planted by The Queen during her 1982 visit. The Duke and Duchess will also view a canoe race and watch a local ball game before finally ending up at a mocked-up traditional Tuvaluan village, where the couple will view demonstrations of traditional crafts and cooking.

The tour round the island will take most of the afternoon, and at various points, Their Royal Highnesses will be accompanied by local guides and dignitaries who will explain a number of issues that are pertinent to the island. Of primary concern to the Tuvaluan Government is the issue of rising sea levels and coastal erosion, which severely threaten the long-term survival of their nation. The Duke studied the effects of rising sea levels on reefs at university, and so the issue is one about which he is very passionate and is keen to learn more.

In the evening, The Duke and Duchess will attend a traditional dinner, hosted by the Governor-General, where Their Royal Highnesses will have a chance to sample traditional Tuvaluan food before watching a performance of local dances. The couple will subsequently retire privately for the night, the first time that a Member of the Royal Family has stayed overnight on an island of Tuvalu.

The following morning, following a departure ceremony, The Duke and Duchess will bid farewell to Tuvalu, and will return home to London via a brief change of aircraft in Brisbane.

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