The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are set to officially visit Belize, Jamaica and the Bahamas next week as part of The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations, but let’s turn back the clock 1tenyears to their previous Jubilee tour of Southwest Asia.
William and Kate visited Singapore, Malaysia, the Solomon Islands and Tuvalu from 11-18 September 2012.
Singapore (11-13 September)
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Upon arrival in Singapore, William and Kate visited the Singapore Botanic Gardens to view the Vanda William Catherine hybrid orchid named in their honour and to see the Dendrobium Memoria Princess Diana orchid named after the late Diana, Princess of Wales. She had been due to fly out to Singapore to view the flower herself in 1997 but died before she could make the trip. William called his mother’s flower beautiful and said that Kate’s dress matched their orchid.
Later that evening, at an official dinner held in their honour at the President’s residence, William told the guests that his grandmother had “told me how much we would enjoy seeing Singapore, and meeting Singaporeans. How right she was.”
On their second day in Singapore, William and Kate visited the Gardens by the Bay project, a botanical garden and park in the heart of central Singapore that encourages residents to appreciate the natural world. The royal couple then travelled to the Rolls Royce factory in Seletar and ended the day with a visit to the Rainbow Center school for children with special needs. That evening, they attended a reception at the British High Commissioner’s residence.
Their final engagement in Singapore involved laying a wreath at the Kranji War Cemetery before the royals flew to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Malaysia (13-15 September)
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Upon arrival in Kuala Lumpur, William and Kate were received by the Prime Minister of Malaysia before visiting the Hospis Malaysia to meet with children and families supported by the medical centre.
Kate gave her first overseas speech at the Hospis, not long after her first few patronages were announced, including those involving early childhood care: “William and I are hugely excited to be in Malaysia – this, our first ever visit – and are absolutely delighted to have been invited to join you all here at Hospis Malaysia.
“It is so exciting to learn about the country’s very first paediatric palliative care programme and to witness for myself something of the wonderful work of Hospis Malaysia’s superb staff.
“As Patron of East Anglia Children’s Hospice, a UK based charity, I am thrilled to hear that you have been working with Hospis Malaysia, and that you plan to collaborate as you roll out this new programme.
“Through this Patronage, I have learnt that delivering the best possible palliative care to children is vital.
“This is a very special place and so much is already being achieved. It has been wonderful meeting the patients, families and all the staff here – you have given us the most wonderful welcome.”
“Thank you again for inviting us here – and all the very best to this exciting new initiative!”
Their first evening in Malaysia ended with an official dinner at the residence of The Agong, the King of Malaysia.
On their second day in Malaysia, the Cambridges attended a cultural event at the Kuala Lumpur Park, ate lunch with the British Malaysian Chamber of Commerce, and attended a Diamond Jubilee High Tea Party at the British High Commissioner’s residence. They then travelled to Kota Kinabalu for a reception.
On their final day in Malaysia, William and Kate travelled by helicopter to Danum Valley to meet with scientists and volunteers at the Field Centre Laboratory to learn more about their research projects. The royals walked through the Danum Valley Conservation Area and learned more about the conservation work at play in the celebrated rainforest to mark the end of their official visit to Malaysia.
Solomon Islands (16-18 September)
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The Duke and Duchess arrived at Honiara in the Solomon Islands for their first engagement, a service of thanksgiving in honour of The Queen at the Church of Melanesia Cathedral. Their first evening in the Solomon Islands ended with an island feast at the residence of the Governor-General.
On their second day in the Solomon Islands, William and Kate separated to carry out their own individual slate of engagements. William presented Duke of Edinburgh Gold Awards to seven young people while Kate attended a reception for various women’s organisations. The couple reunited for a lunch reception hosted by the Prime Minister of the Solomon Islands in support of various charity groups before travelling by plane to Marau and then travelling by boat to Marapa, a small island, and Tavanipupu, where they spent a private night together.
On their final day in the Solomon Islands, the couple travelled back to Honiara for their departure and immediately left for Tuvalu, their final stop on their Diamond Jubilee tour.
Tuvalu (18 September)
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Upon arrival in Tuvalu, Their Royal Highnesses were treated to a welcoming ceremony where William gave a speech praising The Queen. He said that he and Kate had been excited to visit the country based on what his grandmother had told them about her previous visits.
After the welcoming ceremony, William and Kate visited Funafuti Island to visit schools and to view a coconut tree that The Queen had planted during a 1982 visit; they capped their afternoon with a canoe race and a ball game.
On their final evening of the tour, William and Kate attended a traditional dinner hosted by the Governor-General and became the first members of the Royal Family to spend the night in Tuvalu.
The following morning, William and Kate departed Tuvalu and stopped briefly in Brisbane, Australia, to catch a flight back to London.
