Britain's Prince Charles celebrated his 71st birthday with school children in an iconic hotel in India.&nbsp;

Charles cut his birthday cake in the presence of a group of children who were dressed up in their school uniform at the Taj Mahal hotel in Mumbai. Earlier, the Prince of Wales attended a round-table conference on sustainable market initiatives with a group of businessmen in the same hotel.

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After arriving in India on Wednesday, Prince Charles visited Bangla Sahib Gurudwara where he was presented a 'kirpan' by members of a Gurudwara committee. Prince Charles also participated in the 'seva', where he helped in preparing chapatis for the Langar. &nbsp;

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Charles also took a ride in an e-rickshaw driven by a woman. He also held bilateral talks with President Ram Nath Kovind at the Rashtrapati Bhavan and visited the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/prince-charles-visits-india-meteorological-department-261804">India Meteorological Department </a>and the Delhi War cemetery, among other sites.&nbsp;

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This is the tenth official visit of Britain prince to India. He last visited the country with his wife Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, as part of their 10-day tour to Asian countries, including Singapore, Malaysia and Brunei.

Last month, Prince Charles' elder son Prince William and his wife Kate Middleton had visited neighbouring country Pakistan. &nbsp;

The Prince of Wales' 10th official visit is to celebrate enduring British-Indian ties, with a focus on shared global challenges such as sustainability and climate change.&nbsp;

(with inputs from agencies) 
&nbsp;

Britain's Prince Charles celebrated his 71st birthday with school children in an iconic hotel in India. Charles cut his birthday cake in the presence of a group of children who were dressed up in their school uniform at the Taj Mahal hotel in Mumbai.

Britain's Prince Charles celebrated his 71st birthday with school children in an iconic hotel in India. Charles cut his birthday cake in the presence of a group of children who were dressed up in their school uniform at the Taj Mahal hotel in Mumbai. Earlier, the Prince of Wales attended a round-table conference on sustainable market initiatives with a group of businessmen in the same hotel. The Prince of Wales - Prince Charles celebrated his 71st birthday with school children in Mumbai, today. pic.twitter.com/j0YXeYY5Ub — ANI (@ANI) November 14, 2019 × After arriving in India on Wednesday, Prince Charles visited Bangla Sahib Gurudwara where he was presented a 'kirpan' by members of a Gurudwara committee. Prince Charles also participated in the 'seva', where he helped in preparing chapatis for the Langar. #RT @ANI: Prince of Wales - Prince Charles at the Gurudwara Bangla Sahib in New Delhi. He is on a three-day visit to India. pic.twitter.com/3XZiLe6w6B — Gabbar (@GabbarSinggg) November 13, 2019 × Charles also took a ride in an e-rickshaw driven by a woman. He also held bilateral talks with President Ram Nath Kovind at the Rashtrapati Bhavan and visited the India Meteorological Department and the Delhi War cemetery, among other sites. #RT @ANI: Delhi: The Prince of Wales-Prince Charles called on President Ram Nath Kovind at Rashtrapati Bhavan today. He is on a three-day visit to India. pic.twitter.com/Nzjx5vR5Gm — Gabbar (@GabbarSinggg) November 13, 2019 × This is the tenth official visit of Britain prince to India. He last visited the country with his wife Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, as part of their 10-day tour to Asian countries, including Singapore, Malaysia and Brunei. Last month, Prince Charles' elder son Prince William and his wife Kate Middleton had visited neighbouring country Pakistan. The Prince of Wales' 10th official visit is to celebrate enduring British-Indian ties, with a focus on shared global challenges such as sustainability and climate change. (with inputs from agencies)

Prince Charles celebrates 71st birthday with school children in Mumbai

Britain's Prince Charles is set to arrive in India today to discuss key issues during the two-day trip including&nbsp;discussions on climate change.

Charles will also a visit to Gurdwara and a meet to President Ram Nath Kovind.&nbsp;

In a statement, the British High Commission said that the Prince of Wales' 10th official visit will celebrate enduring British-Indian ties, with a focus on shared global challenges such as sustainability and climate change. Prince Charles will also hold a bilateral meeting with President Kovind and be a&nbsp;part of varied engagements in the national capital, the statement said.

He will also award Commonwealth 'Points of Light'&nbsp;to an Indian for her exemplary contributions to the society that involves upliftment of disabled children, family counselling and therapy sessions. Prince Charles will also pay a visit to the Indian Meteorological Department(IMD)&nbsp;where he will&nbsp;participate in a discussion on how to strengthen disaster resilience and tackle the effects of climate change.&nbsp;

To celebrate the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak, Prince Charles will also visit a Gurdwara and mark the contributions of the Sikh community in the UK, the statement added. The Prince of Wales will then attend a military service to recognize the valiant efforts of soldiers from India, the&nbsp;UK and across the Commonwealth nations in World Wars.&nbsp;

Charles will also meet prominent businessmen from India where he will seek their advice and inputs on the creation of sustainable markets.

"I am delighted to welcome His Royal Highness. The Royal Highness will witness how India makes use of innovation to respond to natural disasters and how its clean technology is helping deal with the challenges of climate change. He will celebrate our strong cultural links and experience the warm hospitality that diverse religious communities in India have to offer," said British High Commissioner to India Sir Dominic Asquith.

Asquith added that Prince Charles' visit will "honour the past, celebrate the present" and look forward to a joint future driven by an innovative and responsible focus on shared challenges.&nbsp;

Earlier, Prince Charles' elder son Prince William and Kate Middleton had visited neighbouring country Pakistan from October 14 to 18.

Prince Charles last came to India was in 2017 with his wife Camilla as part of their 10-day tour to Asian countries, including Singapore, Malaysia and Brunei.

(with inputs from agencies)

Britain's Prince Charles is set to arrive in India today to discuss key issues during the two-day trip including discussions on climate change. Charles will also a visit to Gurdwara and a meet to President Ram Nath Kovind.

Britain's Prince Charles is set to arrive in India today to discuss key issues during the two-day trip including discussions on climate change. Charles will also a visit to Gurdwara and a meet to President Ram Nath Kovind. In a statement, the British High Commission said that the Prince of Wales' 10th official visit will celebrate enduring British-Indian ties, with a focus on shared global challenges such as sustainability and climate change. Prince Charles will also hold a bilateral meeting with President Kovind and be a part of varied engagements in the national capital, the statement said. He will also award Commonwealth 'Points of Light' to an Indian for her exemplary contributions to the society that involves upliftment of disabled children, family counselling and therapy sessions. Prince Charles will also pay a visit to the Indian Meteorological Department(IMD) where he will participate in a discussion on how to strengthen disaster resilience and tackle the effects of climate change. To celebrate the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak, Prince Charles will also visit a Gurdwara and mark the contributions of the Sikh community in the UK, the statement added. The Prince of Wales will then attend a military service to recognize the valiant efforts of soldiers from India, the UK and across the Commonwealth nations in World Wars. Charles will also meet prominent businessmen from India where he will seek their advice and inputs on the creation of sustainable markets. "I am delighted to welcome His Royal Highness. The Royal Highness will witness how India makes use of innovation to respond to natural disasters and how its clean technology is helping deal with the challenges of climate change. He will celebrate our strong cultural links and experience the warm hospitality that diverse religious communities in India have to offer," said British High Commissioner to India Sir Dominic Asquith. Asquith added that Prince Charles' visit will "honour the past, celebrate the present" and look forward to a joint future driven by an innovative and responsible focus on shared challenges. Earlier, Prince Charles' elder son Prince William and Kate Middleton had visited neighbouring country Pakistan from October 14 to 18. Prince Charles last came to India was in 2017 with his wife Camilla as part of their 10-day tour to Asian countries, including Singapore, Malaysia and Brunei. (with inputs from agencies)

Prince Charles to arrive in India today on two-day visit

Prince Charles, heir-to-the-British throne, will make an official visit to India next month with a focus on sustainable markets, climate change and social finance, his office said on Monday.

Charles, 70, will arrive in New Delhi for the two-day visit on Wednesday, November&nbsp;13.

It will be Charles' 10th official visit to India. His last was as part of a joint tour with his wife Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, to Brunei, India, Singapore and Malaysia in November 2017.

More details about the visit, made at the request of the Foreign Office based on the government’s priorities, will be announced in due course, his Clarence House official added. Britain has been keen to secure a trade deal with India after it <a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/european-union-agrees-in-principle-to-extend-brexit-258217">leaves the European Union.</a>

The announcement also comes a week after Charles's son William and his wife Kate completed a <a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/kate-middleton-prince-william-wrap-up-pakistan-tour-with-a-thank-you-post-257469">four-day trip</a> to India's neighbour Pakistan.

Prince Charles, heir-to-the-British throne, will make an official visit to India next month with a focus on sustainable markets, climate change and social finance, his office said on Monday.

Prince Charles, heir-to-the-British throne, will make an official visit to India next month with a focus on sustainable markets, climate change and social finance, his office said on Monday. Charles, 70, will arrive in New Delhi for the two-day visit on Wednesday, November 13. It will be Charles' 10th official visit to India. His last was as part of a joint tour with his wife Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, to Brunei, India, Singapore and Malaysia in November 2017. More details about the visit, made at the request of the Foreign Office based on the government’s priorities, will be announced in due course, his Clarence House official added. Britain has been keen to secure a trade deal with India after it leaves the European Union. The announcement also comes a week after Charles's son William and his wife Kate completed a four-day trip to India's neighbour Pakistan.

Prince Charles to visit India next month for second time in two years

Ever since Prince Archie entered the world on May 6, he has been showered with love and wishes from across the world.&nbsp;

Joining the list of well-wishers, Mumbai`s famed Dabbawalas have sent a special gift for the royal baby. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, were recently blessed with a baby boy, who they named Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor.

Ever since they gave the world a glimpse of little Archie, the baby has become the talk of the town.

While social media is overloaded with messages for the prince of Sussex, Mumbai`s Dabbawallas have sent their blessings with a special set of silver jewellery all the way to the United Kingdom.

"Prince Charles is our friend and has become a grandfather, so we`ve become grandfathers too. In Marathi culture, we present gifts to our grandchild," Subhash Talekar, the president of Mumbai Dabbawala Association, told ANI.

Courtesy to their friendship with Prince Harry`s father over the years, the Dabbawalas have celebrated almost every major event that has taken place in the royal family.

Last year, on the occasion of Harry and Meghan`s wedding, Dabbawalas of Mumbai gifted a set of Maharashtrian wedding attire to the couple.&nbsp;

They even celebrated the royal wedding, which took place on May 19, by distributing sweets to patients of a government hospital in Mumbai.

The Dabbawalas' relationship with the British royal family dates back to 2003, when Prince Charles visited Mumbai.&nbsp;

Since then, a special friendship was forged.

The Dabbawalas even attended Charles` second wedding.&nbsp;

Ever since Prince Archie entered the world on May 6, he has been showered with love and wishes from across the world. Joining the list of well-wishers, Mumbai`s famed Dabbawalas have sent a special gift for the royal baby.

Ever since Prince Archie entered the world on May 6, he has been showered with love and wishes from across the world. Joining the list of well-wishers, Mumbai`s famed Dabbawalas have sent a special gift for the royal baby. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, were recently blessed with a baby boy, who they named Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor. Ever since they gave the world a glimpse of little Archie, the baby has become the talk of the town. While social media is overloaded with messages for the prince of Sussex, Mumbai`s Dabbawallas have sent their blessings with a special set of silver jewellery all the way to the United Kingdom. "Prince Charles is our friend and has become a grandfather, so we`ve become grandfathers too. In Marathi culture, we present gifts to our grandchild," Subhash Talekar, the president of Mumbai Dabbawala Association, told ANI. Courtesy to their friendship with Prince Harry`s father over the years, the Dabbawalas have celebrated almost every major event that has taken place in the royal family. Last year, on the occasion of Harry and Meghan`s wedding, Dabbawalas of Mumbai gifted a set of Maharashtrian wedding attire to the couple. They even celebrated the royal wedding, which took place on May 19, by distributing sweets to patients of a government hospital in Mumbai. The Dabbawalas' relationship with the British royal family dates back to 2003, when Prince Charles visited Mumbai. Since then, a special friendship was forged. The Dabbawalas even attended Charles` second wedding.

Mumbai Dabbawalas send their grandson: Prince Archie a special gift

When Prince Charles, who turns 70 next week, becomes king on the death of his mother Queen Elizabeth, he will have waited longer than any of his predecessors to head a royal family that dates back 1,000 years.

Some monarchists fear, and Republicans hope, he will be a poor king. His admirers believe his wisdom, thoughtfulness and concerns for conservation and the environment will win him the public support he deserves.

Overshadowing it all is his late first wife, Princess Diana, the acrimonious end to their marriage, and the enduring hostility in some quarters to his second wife Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall.

"You are accused of being controversial just because you are trying to draw attention to things that aren't necessarily part of the conventional viewpoint," Charles said in an interview with GQ magazine in September.

"My problem is I find there are too many things that need doing or battling on behalf of."

Charles Philip Arthur George, Prince of Wales, Duke of Cornwall, Duke of Rothesay, Earl of Carrick, Baron of Renfrew, Earl of Chester, Lord of the Isles, and Prince and Great Steward of Scotland was born at Buckingham Palace on Nov. 14, 1948.

He was four when his grandfather George VI died and his mother ascended to the throne at the age of 25. The following year, Charles watched with his grandmother and aunt, the late Princess Margaret, as Elizabeth was crowned queen of 16 realms.

He despised his remote Scottish school, Gordonstoun, which his father also attended, but was the first royal heir to get a degree after studying at Cambridge University.

Charles was made Prince of Wales at a grand ceremony in 1969. But at 92 his mother remains in good health with no plans to abdicate, so his wait goes on.

For his critics, and even some monarchists who think he will bring disaster upon the House of Windsor, that is no bad thing.

"Frankly we're very lucky he hasn't been king, because whereas the queen has been the most exemplary monarch and has kept the monarchy much in people's esteem, I think Charles would undermine it," said Tom Bower, author of 'Rebel Prince', an unauthorised biography.

Such unflattering biographies portray Charles as an arrogant, weak man who enjoys the trappings of luxury - he has his own royal harpist - is intolerant of criticism, and is a devotee of oddball theories.

"HE'S COMPLICATED"

Charles' supporters say he is an easy quarry, with every action and utterance scrutinised by an often unsympathetic media.

"When you're in his very exposed public position, loyalty and disloyalty is a quite complex situation," said a former senior aide who worked with the prince for many years.

He said detractors simply chose to view Charles's characteristics in a bad light.

"There's a whole load of stuff that is just not true," the former aide, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told Reuters. "Bower's only spoken to people with a grievance."

So what is he really like?

"He's complicated. I've rarely met anyone so curious about the world as him and eager to know what's going on and why. More than anything, he's got this drive, he's phenomenally hard-working," the ex-aide said.

Simon Lewis, the Queen's communications secretary from 1998 to 2001, described Charles as full of enthusiasm, committed, with a "wicked sense of humour".

"If you are a public figure ... if you put your head above the parapet then you get criticism," Lewis told Reuters.

Friends and foes speak of his devotion to duty. The prince's working day starts at breakfast - he doesn't have lunch - and finishes near midnight, every day. The ex-aide said he got a work-related call from Charles on Christmas Day.

In private, Charles is passionate about arts, culture, theatre, literature, opera and pop - he's also a big fan of Leonard Cohen.

Happiest in his garden, he loves Shakespeare, paints watercolours and has written children's books. He can be fun but also short-tempered and demanding, the former aide said.

LIFE OF LUXURY?

Official figures show his recent overseas tours were the most expensive taken by the Royals.

"He's ... intent on a very, very hyper-luxurious way of life, flying by private jet, (using the) royal train," said Bower, whose says his book was based on interviews with 120 people, many of whom worked for the Royals.

Charles rejects such claims.

"Oh, don't believe all that crap," he told an Australian radio station in April when asked if it was true he travelled with his own toilet seat as Bower described.

But he can still put on a regal show: If he entertains, there is beautiful food, wine and service.

"He thinks that's right for the Prince of Wales and I think people would be disappointed if it wasn't," the ex-aide said.

INTERFERING

It is not just his lifestyle that attracts umbrage.

His campaigning for causes such as the environment and climate change has led to accusations he is interfering in matters that British royals should avoid.

However, Charles has said it would be "criminally negligent" not to use his position to help people and his role has allowed him to express strong views. That would be impossible for a monarch, who under Britain's unwritten constitution, must remain apolitical.

"There's a whole of lot of things I have tried to focus on over all these years that I felt needed attention, not everybody else did, but maybe now some years later they're beginning to realise that what I was trying to say was not quite as dotty as they thought," Charles said in an interview with younger son Harry in 2017.

His supporters say his causes - such as helping disadvantaged young people find work, and inter-faith dialogue - are often prescient and show concern for his fellow countrymen.

He acknowledges he has challenged orthodox views. He has long railed against a throwaway economic model that has polluted the world's oceans with plastic, now a mainstream concern.

But other views, such as his support for complementary medicine, still attract scorn.

In 2013, it was revealed he had held 36 meetings with government ministers over three years, while two years later, Britain's top court ruled that dozens of his letters to ministers - dubbed the 'black spider memos' because of his scrawled handwriting - could be released.

Topics included rural housing, food in hospitals and the fate of the Patagonian Toothfish.

DIANA

However, the issue that most fascinates the public remains Charles's divorce from Diana, her early death in a 1997 Paris car crash and his subsequent marriage in 2005 to Camilla. Some blame Camilla for the failure of his first marriage.

Opinion polls indicate Charles's standing has never fully recovered from damage suffered during the 1990s. A poll in January 2018 found 9 per cent picked Charles as among their favourite royals.

The same poll found 54 per cent had favourable opinions of the prince compared to 24 per cent unfavourable. His mother and sons William and Harry are viewed favourably by more than 80 per cent of Britons.

In a TV interview in 1995, Diana suggested Charles did not want to be king and was not cut out for such a "suffocating" role. Not so, say those who worked with him.

"Charles, the Prince Of Wales, is going to be the best-prepared monarch probably in history and I think he'll be a very good king," Lewis said.

Although Charles is loath to talk about becoming monarch, as it will mean the death of his mother, behind the scenes well-prepared plans for the occasion - codenamed Operation London Bridge - are ready.

Until then, his unique life as heir will go on.

"People rightly talk about the privilege and the money and the palaces and the Bentleys," the prince's former aide said. "It is a privilege, but it carries a great burden. I would never wish that life on anyone."

When Prince Charles, who turns 70 next week, becomes king on the death of his mother Queen Elizabeth, he will have waited longer than any of his predecessors to head a royal family that dates back 1,000 years.

When Prince Charles, who turns 70 next week, becomes king on the death of his mother Queen Elizabeth, he will have waited longer than any of his predecessors to head a royal family that dates back 1,000 years. Some monarchists fear, and Republicans hope, he will be a poor king. His admirers believe his wisdom, thoughtfulness and concerns for conservation and the environment will win him the public support he deserves. Overshadowing it all is his late first wife, Princess Diana, the acrimonious end to their marriage, and the enduring hostility in some quarters to his second wife Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall. "You are accused of being controversial just because you are trying to draw attention to things that aren't necessarily part of the conventional viewpoint," Charles said in an interview with GQ magazine in September. "My problem is I find there are too many things that need doing or battling on behalf of." Charles Philip Arthur George, Prince of Wales, Duke of Cornwall, Duke of Rothesay, Earl of Carrick, Baron of Renfrew, Earl of Chester, Lord of the Isles, and Prince and Great Steward of Scotland was born at Buckingham Palace on Nov. 14, 1948. He was four when his grandfather George VI died and his mother ascended to the throne at the age of 25. The following year, Charles watched with his grandmother and aunt, the late Princess Margaret, as Elizabeth was crowned queen of 16 realms. He despised his remote Scottish school, Gordonstoun, which his father also attended, but was the first royal heir to get a degree after studying at Cambridge University. Charles was made Prince of Wales at a grand ceremony in 1969. But at 92 his mother remains in good health with no plans to abdicate, so his wait goes on. For his critics, and even some monarchists who think he will bring disaster upon the House of Windsor, that is no bad thing. "Frankly we're very lucky he hasn't been king, because whereas the queen has been the most exemplary monarch and has kept the monarchy much in people's esteem, I think Charles would undermine it," said Tom Bower, author of 'Rebel Prince', an unauthorised biography. Such unflattering biographies portray Charles as an arrogant, weak man who enjoys the trappings of luxury - he has his own royal harpist - is intolerant of criticism, and is a devotee of oddball theories. "HE'S COMPLICATED" Charles' supporters say he is an easy quarry, with every action and utterance scrutinised by an often unsympathetic media. "When you're in his very exposed public position, loyalty and disloyalty is a quite complex situation," said a former senior aide who worked with the prince for many years. He said detractors simply chose to view Charles's characteristics in a bad light. "There's a whole load of stuff that is just not true," the former aide, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told Reuters. "Bower's only spoken to people with a grievance." So what is he really like? "He's complicated. I've rarely met anyone so curious about the world as him and eager to know what's going on and why. More than anything, he's got this drive, he's phenomenally hard-working," the ex-aide said. Simon Lewis, the Queen's communications secretary from 1998 to 2001, described Charles as full of enthusiasm, committed, with a "wicked sense of humour". "If you are a public figure ... if you put your head above the parapet then you get criticism," Lewis told Reuters. Friends and foes speak of his devotion to duty. The prince's working day starts at breakfast - he doesn't have lunch - and finishes near midnight, every day. The ex-aide said he got a work-related call from Charles on Christmas Day. In private, Charles is passionate about arts, culture, theatre, literature, opera and pop - he's also a big fan of Leonard Cohen. Happiest in his garden, he loves Shakespeare, paints watercolours and has written children's books. He can be fun but also short-tempered and demanding, the former aide said. LIFE OF LUXURY? Official figures show his recent overseas tours were the most expensive taken by the Royals. "He's ... intent on a very, very hyper-luxurious way of life, flying by private jet, (using the) royal train," said Bower, whose says his book was based on interviews with 120 people, many of whom worked for the Royals. Charles rejects such claims. "Oh, don't believe all that crap," he told an Australian radio station in April when asked if it was true he travelled with his own toilet seat as Bower described. But he can still put on a regal show: If he entertains, there is beautiful food, wine and service. "He thinks that's right for the Prince of Wales and I think people would be disappointed if it wasn't," the ex-aide said. INTERFERING It is not just his lifestyle that attracts umbrage. His campaigning for causes such as the environment and climate change has led to accusations he is interfering in matters that British royals should avoid. However, Charles has said it would be "criminally negligent" not to use his position to help people and his role has allowed him to express strong views. That would be impossible for a monarch, who under Britain's unwritten constitution, must remain apolitical. "There's a whole of lot of things I have tried to focus on over all these years that I felt needed attention, not everybody else did, but maybe now some years later they're beginning to realise that what I was trying to say was not quite as dotty as they thought," Charles said in an interview with younger son Harry in 2017. His supporters say his causes - such as helping disadvantaged young people find work, and inter-faith dialogue - are often prescient and show concern for his fellow countrymen. He acknowledges he has challenged orthodox views. He has long railed against a throwaway economic model that has polluted the world's oceans with plastic, now a mainstream concern. But other views, such as his support for complementary medicine, still attract scorn. In 2013, it was revealed he had held 36 meetings with government ministers over three years, while two years later, Britain's top court ruled that dozens of his letters to ministers - dubbed the 'black spider memos' because of his scrawled handwriting - could be released. Topics included rural housing, food in hospitals and the fate of the Patagonian Toothfish. DIANA However, the issue that most fascinates the public remains Charles's divorce from Diana, her early death in a 1997 Paris car crash and his subsequent marriage in 2005 to Camilla. Some blame Camilla for the failure of his first marriage. Opinion polls indicate Charles's standing has never fully recovered from damage suffered during the 1990s. A poll in January 2018 found 9 per cent picked Charles as among their favourite royals. The same poll found 54 per cent had favourable opinions of the prince compared to 24 per cent unfavourable. His mother and sons William and Harry are viewed favourably by more than 80 per cent of Britons. In a TV interview in 1995, Diana suggested Charles did not want to be king and was not cut out for such a "suffocating" role. Not so, say those who worked with him. "Charles, the Prince Of Wales, is going to be the best-prepared monarch probably in history and I think he'll be a very good king," Lewis said. Although Charles is loath to talk about becoming monarch, as it will mean the death of his mother, behind the scenes well-prepared plans for the occasion - codenamed Operation London Bridge - are ready. Until then, his unique life as heir will go on. "People rightly talk about the privilege and the money and the palaces and the Bentleys," the prince's former aide said. "It is a privilege, but it carries a great burden. I would never wish that life on anyone."

The man who would be king, eventually: Prince Charles turns 70

Amid heavy smog that enveloped the national Capital, Britain&#39;s Prince Charles, accompanied by his wife Camilla Parker-Bowles, the Duchess of Cornwall, arrived here on Wednesday on a two-day visit to India at the final leg of their 10-day-long four-nation tour that also took them to Singapore, Malaysia and Brunei. When their plane touched the technical area of Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) at 1:30 pm, cameramen had to use flash lights to capture the moment due to the smog. Interestingly, among others issues, climate change was also one of the agenda for the talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said climate change, Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), economic cooperation, and other bilateral issues came up for discussion. Among other engagements, Charles also launched a development bond for India to provide education to marginalised children. The British Asian Trust&#39;s $10-million Education Development Impact Bond, was founded by the Prince of Wales to improve literacy level for over 2,00,000 primary school students from marginalised communities in Delhi, Gujarat and Rajasthan.

The Education Development Impact Bond has been developed by the trust alongside UBS Optimus Foundation with the aim to provide funding to four local not-for-profit delivery partners over four years, delivering a range of operational models including teacher training, direct school management, and supplementary programmes.

Ahead of talks with Modi, the royal couple also attended UK-India Year of Culture function hosted by the British Council at the lawns of UK envoy&#39;s official residence. They also attended an event run by the charity Elephant Family marked by dozens of large, brightly-painted elephant sculptures.

The organisation was started by Camilla&#39;s environmentalist and adventurer brother, Mark Shand, who devoted his life to preserving India&#39;s dwindling Asian elephant population. He died tragically in 2014 in an freak accident in New York after which the royal couple decided to carry on his work. According to Vikram Goyal, Elephant Family Patron, India is home to the largest population of Asian elephants. &quot;The event was organised to highlight that survival was becoming harder for the animals as their habitate dwindles, forcing them to clash with locals,&quot; he said.

Clarence House, the official Twitter handle of the Prince and the Duchess tweeted, &quot;An assembled &#39;Elephant Parade&#39; greet Their Royal Highnesses in the garden of the British High Commissioner&#39;s Residence.&quot;

&quot;The elephant family sculptures will be taken to Mumbai to raise awareness of the charity&#39;s mission to help protect Asian elephants,&quot; it said in another tweet.

The UK government&#39;s Department for International Development (DfID) will contribute technical assistance and insights to the project as part of a wider partnership. &quot;The DfID is exploring new and innovative ways to finance programmes which will transform the lives of some of the world&#39;s poorest people. We are proud to support the British Asian Trust as they develop their Development Impact Bond, which will provide access to quality education for hundreds of thousands of children,&quot; said DfID minister Priti Patel.

Apart from launching the $10-mn bond, Charles discusses climate change

Amid heavy smog that enveloped the national Capital, Britain's Prince Charles, accompanied by his wife Camilla Parker-Bowles, the Duchess of Cornwall, arrived here on Wednesday on a two-day visit to India at the final leg of their 10-day-long four-nation tour that also took them to Singapore, Malaysia and Brunei. When their plane touched the technical area of Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) at 1:30 pm, cameramen had to use flash lights to capture the moment due to the smog. Interestingly, among others issues, climate change was also one of the agenda for the talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said climate change, Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), economic cooperation, and other bilateral issues came up for discussion. Among other engagements, Charles also launched a development bond for India to provide education to marginalised children. The British Asian Trust's $10-million Education Development Impact Bond, was founded by the Prince of Wales to improve literacy level for over 2,00,000 primary school students from marginalised communities in Delhi, Gujarat and Rajasthan. The Education Development Impact Bond has been developed by the trust alongside UBS Optimus Foundation with the aim to provide funding to four local not-for-profit delivery partners over four years, delivering a range of operational models including teacher training, direct school management, and supplementary programmes. Ahead of talks with Modi, the royal couple also attended UK-India Year of Culture function hosted by the British Council at the lawns of UK envoy's official residence. They also attended an event run by the charity Elephant Family marked by dozens of large, brightly-painted elephant sculptures. The organisation was started by Camilla's environmentalist and adventurer brother, Mark Shand, who devoted his life to preserving India's dwindling Asian elephant population. He died tragically in 2014 in an freak accident in New York after which the royal couple decided to carry on his work. According to Vikram Goyal, Elephant Family Patron, India is home to the largest population of Asian elephants. "The event was organised to highlight that survival was becoming harder for the animals as their habitate dwindles, forcing them to clash with locals," he said. Clarence House, the official Twitter handle of the Prince and the Duchess tweeted, "An assembled 'Elephant Parade' greet Their Royal Highnesses in the garden of the British High Commissioner's Residence." "The elephant family sculptures will be taken to Mumbai to raise awareness of the charity's mission to help protect Asian elephants," it said in another tweet. The UK government's Department for International Development (DfID) will contribute technical assistance and insights to the project as part of a wider partnership. "The DfID is exploring new and innovative ways to finance programmes which will transform the lives of some of the world's poorest people. We are proud to support the British Asian Trust as they develop their Development Impact Bond, which will provide access to quality education for hundreds of thousands of children," said DfID minister Priti Patel.

Prince Charles backs new education bond for India

Prince of Wales, Charles Philip Arthur George along with Duchess of Cornwall, Camilla Parker Bowles arrived in India on Wednesday and have decided to back a new development bond for India which will provide education to marginalised children in the country.

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Prince of Wales, Charles Philip Arthur George along with Duchess of Cornwall, Camilla Parker Bowles arrived in India on Wednesday. (AFP)
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The British Asian Trust was created by Prince Charles, with the aim to curb poverty in South Asia.&nbsp;

With this in mind, Prince of Wales had instituted a 10 million Education Development Impact Bond (DIB) as an innovative and sustainable social impact investment tool which will be tied in with performance and outcomes of educational initiatives.

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Prince Charles and Duchess of Cornwall, Camilla Parker Bowles (AFP)
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Beginning with India, this bond will finally circle across the trust&#39;s other regions of operations.&nbsp;

&quot;I hope that through the trust we can impact the lives of not just children in India but also change the mindsets of philanthropists around the world,&quot; said Prince Charles.

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Prince Charles (AFP)
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As part of the initiative, the DIB will be funding four not-for-profit delivery partners in India for a period of four years and create a result-oriented way to generate more capital into development, with a strong emphasis on data and evidence.

The initiative plans to create technical support and deliver insights as well as provide a wide range of operational models including principal and teacher training, direct school management, and supplementary programmes.

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Prince Charles and Duchess of Cornwall, Camilla Parker Bowles greet everyone on their arrival (ANI)
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They will be on a two-day visit to India as part of their 10-day four nation tour to Singapore, Malaysia, Brunei and India.

(With inputs from PTI)

He has decided to back a new development bond for India which will provide education to marginalised children in the country.

Prince of Wales, Charles Philip Arthur George along with Duchess of Cornwall, Camilla Parker Bowles arrived in India on Wednesday and have decided to back a new development bond for India which will provide education to marginalised children in the country. Prince of Wales, Charles Philip Arthur George along with Duchess of Cornwall, Camilla Parker Bowles arrived in India on Wednesday. (AFP) × The British Asian Trust was created by Prince Charles, with the aim to curb poverty in South Asia. With this in mind, Prince of Wales had instituted a 10 million Education Development Impact Bond (DIB) as an innovative and sustainable social impact investment tool which will be tied in with performance and outcomes of educational initiatives. Prince Charles and Duchess of Cornwall, Camilla Parker Bowles (AFP) × Beginning with India, this bond will finally circle across the trust's other regions of operations. "I hope that through the trust we can impact the lives of not just children in India but also change the mindsets of philanthropists around the world," said Prince Charles. Prince Charles (AFP) × As part of the initiative, the DIB will be funding four not-for-profit delivery partners in India for a period of four years and create a result-oriented way to generate more capital into development, with a strong emphasis on data and evidence. The initiative plans to create technical support and deliver insights as well as provide a wide range of operational models including principal and teacher training, direct school management, and supplementary programmes. Prince Charles and Duchess of Cornwall, Camilla Parker Bowles greet everyone on their arrival (ANI) × They will be on a two-day visit to India as part of their 10-day four nation tour to Singapore, Malaysia, Brunei and India. (With inputs from PTI)

Prince Charles and Duchess of Cornwall, Camilla arrive in India