Charles visits an icon exhibition in Mayfair after Chinese New Year
A worldly heir! Prince of Wales is handed an icon of Saint Corona as he visits Dr Irina Bradley’s ‘Metamorphosis’ icon exhibition in Mayfair – after ringing in the Chinese New Year with Camilla this afternoon
Prince Charles visited Dr Irina Bradley’s ‘Metamorphosis’ exhibition in MayfairEarlier, here and Camilla joined celebrations for Lunar New Year in ChinatownPrince of Wales, 73, and Duchess of Cornwall, 74, laughed with locals in LondonCharles even appeared to lead crowds as he drummed on the head of a tiger
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Prince Charles appeared in good spirits as he attended multiple engagements in London today.
The heir-to-the-throne, 73, headed to the Catholic Church of the Immaculate Conception in central London this evening, where he visited the Iconographer Dr Irina Bradley’s ‘Metamorphosis’ icon exhibition.
During the tour, the Princes of Wales, who donned a smart blue suit for the occasion, was gifted an icon of Saint Corona by the iconographer.
Earlier today, Charles and Camilla, 74, joined celebrations for Lunar New Year in Chinatown.
Charles even appeared to lead crowds as he drummed on the head of a tiger, while beaming in delight.
Prince Charles, 73, headed to the Catholic Church of the Immaculate Conception in central London this evening, where he visited the Iconographer Dr Irina Bradley’s ‘Metamorphosis’ Icon exhibition
Earlier today, The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall, 74, donned red scarves to celebrate the Chinese New Year in Chinatown
Charles sported his signature navy blue suit today for his busy day of engagements.
Tonight, he headed to Mayfair to tour the exhibition, where he was welcomed by Dr Irina as well as Father Dominic Robinson.
He admired the different icons’ in display and talked to a few attendees, including a seven-year-old girl whose icon was on show, and a women who read him a poem written by her husband.
The heir-to-the-throne, who appeared deeply interested by the icons in the exhibition, also took in the splendour of the Church during his visit.
Dressed in a smart navy suit, Charles talked with Dr Irina Bradley and her loved ones as he prepared to tour her exhibition
The heir-to-the-throne was led into the church by Father Dominic Robinson, left, with whom he exchanged a few pleasant words
The Prince of Wales spoke to Clara Green, seven, left, next to her icon painting of Archangel Michael during his visit
Earlier today, him and Camilla joined crowds in Chinatown to ring in the year of the Tiger.
They both wore scarves with the Chinese symbol ‘Zhong’ – which literally translates as ‘middle’ but is also used to represent China in Chinese characters.
The royal couple shook hundreds of hands as they pushed their way through the crowds, with the lions and musicians in front of them.
In one local restaurant they were invited to try their hand at calligraphy. They wrote a Chinese symbol for ‘harmony’ in what calligraphy expert Dr Chan Cheng said was intended as an auspicious gesture to bring them happy lives together.
‘You make it look very easy!’ said the prince admiringly.
Dr Irina was there to answer the questions of the future king as the two took a look at the exhibited artworks
Carol Henderson, right, got a standing ovation from Charles after she read him a poem written by her husband Stewart
De Cheng had written a message on a red piece of paper. It included the prince and duchess’s names, said their visit was an honour, and expressed his hope that the coming Year of the Tiger is a good one.
His assistant Dr Liangwei Zhu said afterwards that the ritual of the couple writing side by side would bring them happiness in their lives together.
The visit was designed as a boost to London’s Chinese community, whose businesses have suffered in Covid lockdown and whose members have endured rising racist abuse as a result of the pandemic.
The Prince joined a meeting, including senior police officers and leading figures in the community, about the serious impact of hate crime.
He heard how one police officer of Chinese heritage, PC Caleb Lau, suffered 12 incidents in the last year.
Charles said he was particularly interested to hear how the UK is better than many other countries at recording hate crimes, with numbers appearing to rise as more incidents are taken seriously by police.
Charles was welcomed by Dr Irina, left, as well as the Church’s religious staff, some of which were wearing masks
While he watched the icon’s on show, Charles took in the beauty of the Catholic Church of the Immaculate Conception
‘The extraordinary thing this country seems to do is more recording,’ he said.
As he emerged from his discussion to make a second walk down the street, the lion performers, having taken off their costumes, each shook him by the hand as the Prince asked them whether anyone had offered them a drink after their exertions.
Gesturing to the drum, one asked him: ‘Do you want to try, Your Royal Highness?’
Charles barely paused before accepting a drumstick to hit the large percussion instrument, laughing at the surprised reaction of those around him.
The duchess, meanwhile, continued walking through the main street with a dancing lion and drummers in front of her, stopping briefly outside the Loon Fung supermarket.
And she spent several minutes talking to staff and volunteers at the Chinese Information and Advice Centre.
It was established in 1982 and provides free legal advice and advocacy to disadvantaged and marginalised in the UK Chinese community.
She also praised the centre’s volunteers, telling them: ‘What would we do without our volunteers? The country would collapse. You are doing brilliant work.’
She was offered Chinese sweets and dried fruits, which bring good fortune, and tried some Chinese tea, declaring: ‘I never say no to a nice cup of tea, delicious. I do like your tea pot. It is very smart.’
Edmond Yeo, chairman of the Chinese Information and Advice Centre, who hosted the Prince and Duchess for the visit, said he was’ so proud’ of the community reaction to the royal visit, which he proclaimed so exciting it was ‘unthinkable’.
‘We have genuine love for the royal family,’ he said. ‘The institution of the family is very important in Chinese culture so the Royal Family is very important.
‘It [the visit] was difficult to contain – everyone wanted to know, who are the VVVIPs? The reaction was amazing, I’m so proud of everyone.’
The Lunar New Year – beginning on February 1 – is the start of a two-week celebration and is the most important holiday for millions of people around the world.
Charles was particularly eager to learn about three icons put on show at the Church’s altar tonight
Dr Irina, left, gifted Prince Charles with his very own icon of Sainte Corona, which is invoked as a patron of money, but was invoked by Christians during the coronavirus pandemic, due to her name
Prince Charles and Camilla donned festive red scarves as they joined celebrations for Lunar New Year in London today
The Prince has already issued his congratulations to those celebrating the new Lunar Year, the Year of the Tiger, in Clarence House’s first official message on Chinese social media platform Weibo.
Lunar New Year – or The Spring Festival – is arguably the most important celebration observed in China and through east and southeast Asia.
It signals the beginning of spring, and the start of a new year according to the Chinese lunar calendar.
The Spring Festival is not celebrated just in mainland China, Taiwan and Hong Kong – it’s also one of the most revered holidays across countries with large Chinese populations in Asia, such as Vietnam, Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia and Korea.
There are 15 days of celebrations.
Charles even appeared to lead crowds as he drummed on the head of a tiger, while beaming in delight
Unlike Western astrology, each sign of the Chinese zodiac ‘rules’ over an entire year, bringing with it particular energy to everything that occurs over the next 12 months.
The 12 animals – the rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, goat, monkey, rooster, dog, pig – have a chance to ‘rule’ every 12 years, bringing with it particular fortune for those born under that sign.
Charles was born in the Year of the Rat, 1948 – while Camilla celebrates in the Year of the Pig as she was born in 1947.
Today will no doubt be a joyful celebration in the central London district with restaurants serving traditional Chinese meals.
The area – between Piccadilly Circus and Leicester Square – has also been decorated with red paper lanterns and firecrackers – which are said to ward off evil.
Many people – including Camilla- are wearing red as it signifies good luck, prosperity and vitality.
The Prince of Wales, 73, and Duchess of Cornwall, 74, looked delighted as they joined crowds in Chinatown
Charles sported his signature navy blue suit with a spotted tie while Camilla opted for a red dress with black boots
They both wore scarves with the Chinese symbol ‘Zhong’ – which literally translates as ‘middle’ but is also used to represent China in Chinese characters.
Today will no doubt be a joyful celebration in the central London district with restaurants serving traditional Chinese meals
