Prince Charles arrives in Patiala on Monday
Unlike 2006, the visit of Prince Charles and Duchess of Cornwall Camilla Parker will be a “closed-door affair” at New Moti Bagh Palace in Patiala on Monday.
Unlike 2006, the visit of Prince Charles and Duchess of Cornwall Camilla Parker will be a “closed-door affair” at New Moti Bagh Palace in Patiala on Monday.
Former chief minister Capt Amarinder Singh and his wife Preneet Kaur, who is also the Minister of State for External Affairs, will host the royal couple at their residence for an overnight stay after a dinner in their honour.
Only 150 guests have been invited for the dinner this time. The guest list includes Capt Singh’s family members and close friends. The last time they were over, the Prince and Duchess had dined with more than 1,500 guests. Capt Singh was the chief minister at that time.
Preneet had earlier announced that the Prince and Duchess were on a personal visit and had expressed their willingness to visit New Moti Bagh Palace.
The royal couple would arrive a day after taking part in the inaugural ceremony of the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi. They are expected to arrive at Patiala around 5 pm on Monday after visiting the Punjab Energy Development Authority building in Chandigarh, which is a live model of energy conservation, and a modern farmhouse at Hansali village in Fatehgarh Sahib district.
New Moti Bagh Palace would serve dinner to the royal couple in its lawns, which have been spruced up. A source revealed that a five-star hotel will be taking care of the menu. Martini, the favourite drink of the Prince of Wales, will surely be served.
Meanwhile, security has been tightened in and around New Moti Bagh Palace, built over 22 acres. The façade of the palace has got a fresh coat of paint and workers were seen giving final touches in the lawns.
A palace insider said adequate arrangements had been made while putting up the shamianas this time. During the royal couple’s last visit, the shamianas had got uprooted following a hailstorm. “Hopefully, there’s no storm this time,” the source added.