The Duchess of Cornwall was mobbed by crowds of excited school children after touching down in Kuala Lumpur on Friday – just hours after joking of her wish to ‘slow down’.
Camilla, 70, was visiting the International School at ParkCity in the Malaysian capital with Raja Zarith Sofiah, the Queen of Johor, and the school’s principal Andrew Dalton, as part of her south-east Asian tour with husband the Prince of Wales.
It came after the Duchess told the wife of the Sultan of Brunei: ‘It’s more tiring as you get older.
‘I keep trying to tell everybody that I’m not as young as I used to be, and have to slow down.’
Meanwhile, Charles was almost mistaken for a Time Lord when he stepped out of a Tardis – but luckily there wasn’t a Dalek in sight.
The Duchess of Cornwall visits Kuala Lumpur’s International School in ParkCity with Principal Andrew Dalton (centre) and Her Majesty Raja Zarith Sofiah, Queen of Johor
Close encounter: Charles was almost mistaken for a Time Lord when he stepped out of a TARDIS at the Worq Co-working space for Young Entrepreneurs – but luckily there wasn’t a Dalek in sight
The Prince walked into Doctor Who’s famous time machine when he visited a co-working space for start-up companies in the city, but was only transported a few feet into a members-only area.
The heir to the throne, who is on an 11-day tour of south-east Asia and India, met young entrepreneurs, tech savvy school children showcasing projects, and established businesses during his tour of WORQ.
A Tardis has been created as the doorway from the public space into the private members area and, as staff walked through a nearby side entrance, Charles emerged from the replica of the BBC character’s sci-fi machine.
He joked with the waiting press saying ‘I should have gone through the side (door)’ before sitting down to a meeting with executives from some of Malaysia’s established technology firms.
Andrew Yeow, 28, co-founder of WORQ which opened in March, said they had tried to create a relaxed, fun and practical working environment for fledgling businesses offering facilities like a gym, sleeping pods and a cafe, and much needed space for firms to grow.
Mobbed: The beaming Duchess is barely visible among the throngs of brightly-dressed pupils as she meets staff and teachers at the International School at ParkCity
Camilla, 70, was visiting the International School at ParkCity in the Malaysian capital as part of her south-east Asian tour with husband the Prince of Wales
Gruelling schedule: The pit stop came after the Duchess told the wife of the Sultan of Brunei: ‘I keep trying to tell everybody that I’m not as young as I used to be, and have to slow down’
He said: ‘The response to the Tardis has been good so far, a lot of people find it really cool.
‘They don’t realise it’s a door it’s quite quirky and helps with the ambience.’
The 28-year-old added: ‘This is the first of its kind in Malaysia – a co-working productivity community, what I mean by that is we try and solve two big problems for new businesses.
‘Real estate, issues of having to get an office, and issues entrepreneurs have like increasing sales or trying to connect with regulators or partners – we’re trying to help them by providing a supportive community.’
The Prince walked into Doctor Who’s famous time machine when he visited a co-working space for start-up companies in the city, but was only transported a few feet into a members-only area
The heir to the throne, who is on an 11-day tour of south-east Asia and India, met young entrepreneurs, tech savvy school children showcasing projects, and established businesses during his tour of WORQ
The Tardis has been created as the doorway from the public space into the private members area and, as staff walked through a nearby side entrance, Charles emerged from the replica of the BBC character’s sci-fi machine
Charles joked with the waiting press saying ‘I should have gone through the side (door)’ before sitting down to a meeting with executives from some of Malaysia’s established technology firms
The royal points to his framed signature written in Arabic – a gift to the museum – at its unveiling by Nazrin Muizzuddin Shah, The Sultan of Perak, during his visit to the Islamic Arts Museum on Friday
Missing Camilla? Charles looks pensive as he views exhibits during his visit to the Islamic Arts Museum on Friday
Solo engagement: The Prince of Wales meets 12-year-old Ariff Almir Ali with his ‘child abuse detector’ device, at a tour of MyDigitalMaker Student Showcase during his visit to Worq Co-working space for Young Entrepreneurs on Friday
Earlier, Camilla was entranced by a group of children who performed a traditional Malay wedding dance for her in the Malaysian capital.
The Duchess was visiting the Permata Negara, an educational facility for children up to four, when the youngsters, dressed in traditional Malaysian outfits, entertained her with a ‘Silat’ for the Bride.
‘How sweet, they are just adorable,’ the royal said.
Camilla was greeted by Datin Paduka Seri Hjh. Rosmah Mansor, First Lady of Malaysia and founder of the PERMATA, who led her on a guided tour of the facility just outside Kuala Lumpur.
Welcome present: The Duchess receives a gift from a child at Pusat Anak Permata Negara (PAPN) Putrajaya during the first day of their visit to Malaysia on Friday
Camilla (seated with Datin Paduka Seri Hajjah Rosmah Mansor, First Lady of Malaysia) is entranced by a group of children who performed a traditional Malay wedding dance for her in the Malaysian capital
Dinner time! The Duchess chats to adorable youngsters during her trip to Pusat Anak Permata Negara (PAPN) Putrajaya
She saw youngsters decorating ‘flower eggs,’ or Meghias Bunga Telur, and ‘creating flowers’ (bunga manggar), as well as meeting teachers leading the activities.
Camilla was also charmed after two of the children greeted her with a double handshake while another took her hand and held it to their heart, a sign of honour.
The PERMATA Programmes were founded by the First Lady of Malaysia with the objective of providing a platform that enables children to achieve their potential through cultural learning.
PERMATA Negara cares for new-borns up to pre-school aged children.
Later on Friday, Charles and Camilla got their own thrones when they met His Majesty The Agong of Malaysia.
Non-stop: Camilla also watched youngsters decorating ‘flower eggs,’ or Meghias Bunga Telur, and ‘creating flowers’ ( bunga manggar ), as well as meeting teachers leading the activities
Colour coordination: Her Majesty Raja Zarith Sofiah, the Queen of Johor and the Duchess of Cornwall visit The International School at ParkCity in Kuala Lumpur on Friday
The couple met with the country’s ruler at the Istana Negara, the national palace, in Kuala Lumpur on the second day of their official visit to the country.
Charles and Camilla were ushered by the king’s Grand Chamberlain, Datuk Padua Maharajelela Going, into the Seri Maharaja room to await heir host’s arrival.
They were seated in two elaborately gilded chairs that looked like royal thrones as they awaited the arrival of the Agong, His Majesty The Yang di-Pertuan Agong XV Sultan Muhammad V.
After a short wait he joined them, taking his seat in an even larger ‘throne’ for official photographs.
The Prince of Wales and The King of Malaysia most recently met in May 2017 at the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies where Charles, who is the centre’s Patron, opened its new buildings.
During the event the prince gave a speech calling for a strengthening of ties between the Muslim and Western worlds.