London: Prince Charles and his wife Camilla Parker-Bowles will make a nine-day visit to India next month on their way to Sri Lanka for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM).
This will be the royal couple`s third official visit to India together. The trip, from November 6 to 14, will take them to Dehradun, New Delhi, Mumbai, Pune and Kochi.
The heir to Britain`s throne is representing his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, at this year`s CHOGM as the 87-year-old monarch cuts back on long-haul travel.
Charles and Camilla will "undertake a broad range of engagements to promote the strong UK-India partnership in key areas such as conservation, education, growing business links, women`s empowerment and training", an official statement from the prince`s Clarence House residence today said.
"They will also have the opportunity to celebrate religious diversity, creativity and the vibrant individual family ties between the two countries," it said.
The royal couple will meet political, business and cultural leaders in their most extensive tour of India to date. This is also Charles` eighth official visit to the Commonwealth`s most populous country.
Some specific events include Charles making an off-road trip into an "elephant corridor" in Kerala, Camilla visiting the prestigious Doon School in Dehradun, and both visiting the Indian Military Academy and attending a gala dinner with a Bollywood flavour in Mumbai.
While in India, they will also observe Remembrance Sunday, which marks the end of World War I in 1918.
The Prince of Wales was previously accompanied by wife Camilla on visits to India in 2006 and 2010.
In Sri Lanka, besides officially representing the Queen at the CHOGM in Colombo, the couple will attend the official opening ceremony and a dinner hosted by the prince for the Commonwealth heads of government during their stay between November 14 and 16.
Charles will hold a small number of meetings with Commonwealth heads and others on issues of key importance to the summit. The couple will also have several official engagements, including a visit to a mental health initiative, a hospital and a tea estate.
The prince last visited Sri Lanka in 2005 in the aftermath of the Boxing Day tsunami but it will be a first for his wife.
