Royal Visit: Day One

It’s hard to describe the maelstrom that is a big, high-level visit. The calm before the visit is transformed instantly into high-octane excitement. Impressive convoys that had been sitting idle moments earlier roar into action. Massive crowds seem to suddenly materialise everywhere, many with hastily written welcome placards.

The first visit was to the hugely impressive Kochi Folklore Museum and Theatre (trust me, you should go). It’s an extraordinary place run by George Thaliath and his wife Annie, with support from their kids, Jacob and Elsa. George turned his back on a career in antiquities to save the heritage of his country. In their beautiful museum, seamlessly designed by Annie from more than 30 old houses that were due to be destroyed to make way for new developments. The media will undoubtedly focus on the kathikali and Bhararnatyam performances, but my personal highlight is undoubtedly the look of pride on George’s face at Prince Charles’ genuine interest in all the artefacts. It was an emotional moment as George felt that his life’s work had led up to this moment.

At the hotel, His Royal Highness met the 91 year-old Maharajah of Travancore for an intimate and touching meeting at which the Maharajah recalled meeting Her Majesty the Queen when she was 6 and he was travelling across Europe after taking up his throne. A meeting with a range of experts on sustainable development at a workshop – in the margins of which an MoU between Aluva Municipality and UK firm Atkins to jointly develop plans for low-carbon, sustainable and visually desirable urban planning was signed, followed by a fascinating engagement with a group of pioneering doctors engaged in Integrated Medicine about which His Royal Highness seems to know also as much as the participants leads into a Reception offered by the State Government for the Prince and Duchess to meet a cross-section of Keralan society. The length of the previous sentence evidences how busy they have been on their first day, having already had a programme in Mumbai and a 2 hour flight .

For the team, it’s off for a quick, late working dinner (after realising that no-one had actually eaten anything), then back to the Secretariat to prepare. Clouds are – rather ominously – forming overhead and we all go to sleep in the early hours as a beautiful storm closes in.