From the world’s tallest indoor waterfall to eight-month-old Albane Costa, who nibbled his finger, Singapore rolled out the red carpet for the Prince of Wales.
In South-East Asia for his Earthshot Prize, the royal began his visit to cheers at Jewel Changi, a nature-themed complex at the airport, and posed for selfies at the Shiseido Forest Valley indoor garden, where the 131ft-high HSBC Rain Vortex waterfall was lit up green in his honour.
HE’S A WINNER
Prince William, 41, began his first full day in Singapore on the water, wearing shorts and a baseball cap to join a dragon-boat race on the Marina Reservoir.
His competitive streak paid off as his 22-seater British Dragons boat, with a crew from 14 different nations, claimed victory.
Back on dry land, the Prince held meetings with President Tharman Shanmugaratnam and Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong at the Istana, the President’s office, to discuss climate change and the global water crisis.
William also made a keynote speech at the United for Wildlife Global Summit, sharing memories of being in the country with his wife the Princess, who remained in the UK to help their elder son Prince George with his studies.
“I’m delighted to be back in Singapore,” he said. “It has been 11 years since Catherine and I enjoyed a memorable visit here on behalf of my late grandmother in her Diamond Jubilee year.
“And I should mention that Catherine is very sorry she can’t be here,” he added. “She is helping George through his first set of major exams.”
Saying he was “incredibly proud” of United for Wildlife, which has supported more than 600 investigations and nearly 300 seizures of illegal wildlife products since he founded it in 2014, he ended his speech by telling delegates: “This is a battle that can and must be won.”
