Annual Review 2004 - The Prince of Wales

After India, The Prince travelled to Oman, where
he stayed as the guest of the Sultan, with whom
relations have long been close. His programme
again highlighted inter-faith and (with the British
Council’s help) inter-community understanding,
and included breaking the fast at sunset during
Ramadan with the Muslim faithful at Muscat’s
magnificent new mosque. He also looked at
efforts to preserve Oman’s unique architectural
and cultural heritage, and gave his support to
the work of non-governmental organisations
campaigning to advance the cause of women’s
employment and disabled children’s rights.
In February, The Prince made a week’s tour to
the Middle East, travelling to Iraq, Iran and Saudi
Arabia. His visit to Basra, where he met soldiers
from several of his regiments, officials from the
Coalition Provisional Authority, and local religious
and community leaders, was the first by a
British Royal to Iraq.
Iran was another historic trip – the first by a
member of the Royal Family since the 1979
revolution. The Prince paid a short call on
President Khatami in Tehran, but the main focus
was his visit, as President of the British Red
Cross, to Bam to support relief efforts in the
wake of December’s devastating earthquake.
Finally, in Saudi Arabia, he met Crown Prince
Abdullah and senior members of the Saudi
Government, supported victims of terrorism
and promoted projects to encourage greater
participation by all sectors of society in
economic development.
In addition to these overseas tours, His Royal
Highness works to support the nation’s foreign
policies through a series of meetings at the
Foreign Office’s request in the UK. Over the
year he received more than a dozen heads of
state or their representatives at Clarence House,
entertained senior Commonwealth ministers
and officials, and attended or hosted a series of
events in London.
These included: the launch of the centenary
celebrations of the Entente Cordiale, with
Business in the Community and the Anglo-
French Chamber of Commerce (which aimed
to share best practice on corporate support for
social projects); the launch of the UK Friends
of the Australian Royal Flying Doctors Service;
an event to honour Polish ex-Servicemen from
the Second World War; and a gala dinner with
President Musharraf to celebrate the fiftieth
anniversary of the Pakistan Society.
The Prince’s visit to Iraq may have been a first
for a member of the Royal Family, but the trip
was typical of the work he does to support
Britain’s forces. The Prince has close personal
links with the armed services and, having served
in the Royal Navy, knows first-hand the vital role
they undertake for the country and the sacrifices
our servicemen and women make in doing so.
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“Everyone here is working flat out to support our colleagues
over in Iran and the surrounding countries. The logistics
team, the fundraisers, the press officers, and the programme
managers are all working together to support our massive aid
effort, and The Prince’s visit will be a real boost to them.”
Sir Nicholas Young, Chief Executive of the British Red Cross on
the visit by The Prince of Wales to Bam, Iran