Fond farewell

Manama : A brief stint of royal visits, meetings and discussions spanning for four days has come to an end with the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall leaving Bahrain for the United Kingdom.

Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Prime Minister HRH Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa yesterday bid farewell to the British royal family members at Sakhir Air Base.

Prince Salman said the visit of Prince Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles demonstrated how the collaborative relationship between Bahrain and the UK benefits both countries.

The Crown Prince stressed that the two kingdoms have enjoyed deep-rooted and productive links for many years, and that both nations recognise that increasing constructive cooperation is a key part of achieving shared goals of prosperity and stability.

Also were present sons of the Crown Prince, HH Shaikh Isa bin Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa and HH Shaikh Mohammed bin Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, HH Shaikha Hessa bint Khalifa Al Khalifa, Wife of HH Shaikh Abdulla bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the personal representative of His Majesty the King; the Minister-in-Attendance Foreign Minister Shaikh Khalid bin Ahmed Al Khalifa, members of the Royal family, and other senior officials.

Housing projects

Earlier in the day, the Crown Prince and the Prince of Wales visited a new social housing project in the Southern Governorate, which will see the construction of a modern residential area in collaboration with Prince Charles’ “Prince’s Foundation for Building Community.”

During the tour, the Crown Prince stressed Bahrain’s commitment to ensure the availability of modern and affordable housing, which is why the government, in its current action plan, has pledged to deliver 25,000 housing units across the Kingdom.

Prince Salman stressed that Bahrain was delighted that the Prince of Wales’ Prince’s Foundation for Building Community, was actively contributing to this goal by engaging with the Ministry of Housing and local communities to design a new residential area in the Southern Governorate.

The Crown Prince went on to note that the housing drive was an important element of the government’s ongoing efforts to raise living standards for all citizens, which is the core objective of Bahrain’s sustainability programme and next phase of development.

The Minister of Housing, who accompanied the Crown Prince and Prince Charles during their visit, remarked that the southern town housing project was emblematic of the productive and mutually beneficial relationship between Bahrain and the UK.

During the visit, Prince Salman and Prince Charles inspected housing prototype units.

The Prince’s foundation has overseen large-scale housing projects in the UK and is currently advising on homes in Bahrain’s southern governorate and other development projects across different parts of the Kingdom.

Remembrance Day service

Separately, Prince Charles and Foreign Minister Shaikh Khalid attended a Remembrance Day service organised by the UK Embassy. 

The service honoured the British and allied countries’ soldiers who lost their lives in the first and second world wars and other conflicts.

It began with two minutes’ silence, after which Prince Charles laid a wreath at a memorial dedicated to those who lost their lives in the First World War.

During the service, the Foreign Minister stressed that Remembrance Day serves to remind the world of the human suffering war inflicts and that the international community must continuously strive to ensure lasting peace is secured.