2 min readPuneNov 11, 2013 02:17 AM IST
First published on: Nov 11, 2013 at 02:17 AM IST
Amid busy official commitments during their nine-day tour of India,British royal couple Prince Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles Sunday visited the Kirkee War Memorial in Pune to observe the Remembrance Day. “What he did today (at cemetery) was a private act of remembrance. He attended service today in Mumbai in his official capacity,” said Col Simon Colyer of the British High Commission who accompanied Charles and Camilla.
The Remembrance Day is observed in memory of the martyrs of World War I. The delegates who accompanied the duo were also seen wearing Red Poppy lapel pins to commemorate the day — also known as Poppy Day. It may be noted that 2014 marks the centenary year of WW1.
After landing in Pune at 1.45 pm,the couple reached the war memorial amid tight police security at 2 pm and were taken around the cemetery for 15 minutes. Dressed in a pastel suit,Charles was seen interacting with the accompanying Commonwealth Graves Commission (CWGC) official enquiring curiously about the soldiers whose graves he was shown. “He admired the way the cemetery is maintained. It is beautiful,he said,” said Lt Gen Ravi Eipe of CWGC who accompanied the VVIP visitors.
While there was no specific criterion for showing the graves to the first members of the royal family to visit the cemetery,Eipe said: “One grave was of an old person,while another belonged to a 15-year-old. Also,the Prince belongs to Welch regiment,so when he saw the Welch regiment badge,he enquired.”
The couple laid a wreath at the cross of sacrifice before being led to the entrance of the cemetery,where they just signed contrary to expectations that they might write down their comment. M S Bahanwal,manager,CWGC,who overlooks the maintenance of the cemetery,said: “He (Charles) specifically told me that he is happy with my devoted service.”
Duchess of Cornwall Camilla,who was taken around the cemetery separately,was heard saying: “This (cemetery) is so peaceful,especially after Mumbai.”
Around 2.20 pm,the duo left amid tight police security to the Serum Institute of India.
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