5-11-2023 (SINGAPORE) On Sunday, Britain’s Prince William touched down in Singapore and embarked on a visit to Jewel Changi Airport in preparation for his official duties in the city-state.
The Prince of Wales arrived at Changi Airport at approximately 5 pm and began his exploration of Jewel, a renowned destination for travelers. His visit included a tour of the HSBC Rain Vortex, the stunning indoor waterfall that serves as one of Jewel’s main attractions. He also took the time to meet with the public at the nearby indoor garden, known as Shiseido Forest Valley.
As Prince William entered Jewel around 5.30 pm, a crowd had already gathered, and cheers erupted to welcome the royal visitor. Accompanying him was Ms. Sim Ann, Senior Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and National Development.
While Ms. Sim led the Prince towards the awe-inspiring waterfall, he was overheard expressing his amazement, stating, “It’s enormous.” The presence of the 41-year-old heir to the British throne stirred excitement among those present. Many attendees came bearing gifts, such as soft toys and cards, to offer their best wishes.
Among the well-wishers was author David Seow, aged 55, who brought along photos of the late Diana, Princess of Wales, who was Prince William’s mother and passed away in 1997. Mr. Seow had taken these photos during a visit to London in 1992. When Mr. Seow offered one of the photos to Prince William as a gift, the Prince graciously accepted, saying, “It’s for me? Thank you very much.”
Mr. Seow later shared with The Straits Times that he had been eagerly awaiting Prince William’s arrival since noon, planning to present him with three children’s books that he had authored, all centered around the royal family. He expressed his unwavering support for the royal family, explaining, “I’ve been a supporter of the royal family since I was six. Prince William is doing a good job raising awareness about issues like mental health and the environment.”
Jewel’s chief executive, James Fong, had the honor of showing Prince William a tembusu tree that had been planted in the Forest Valley in recognition of his visit. This tree planting marks a significant gesture, as it is the first time a tree has been planted at Jewel to commemorate the visit of a foreign dignitary, according to Mr. Fong.
Software engineer Jose Ricardo, aged 35, shared his excitement as he visited the newly reopened Terminal 2 at Changi Airport when he learned about Prince William’s visit to Jewel. As a supporter of the Prince’s environmental advocacy, he patiently waited for over an hour for the royal arrival. Mr. Ricardo had the opportunity to convey his admiration to Prince William, describing him as “very handsome,” to which the Prince responded with a smile. Mr. Ricardo, a Filipino residing in Singapore for three years, expressed his appreciation for Prince William’s commitment to environmental causes.
Prince William’s visit to Singapore is scheduled until Wednesday. On Tuesday, he will participate in the award ceremony for the 2023 Earthshot Prize, a global environmental award he established in 2020. The Earthshot Prize aims to incentivize innovative solutions to address pressing environmental challenges over the coming decade, with each of the five winners receiving a grant of £1 million (approximately S$1.7 million).
Reflecting on his return to Singapore for this year’s Earthshot Prize ceremony, Prince William commented in a statement, “It’s fantastic to be back in Singapore after 11 years for this year’s Earthshot Prize ceremony.”
First glimpse of Prince William’s arrival in Singapore ????#EarthshotSingapore2023
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— anna (@tokkianami) November 5, 2023
