രാജകുമാരനും കാമില രാജകുമാരിയും കൊച്ചിയോട്‌ വിടപറഞ്ഞു

A red rose from a prince: Charles throws flower to British woman who serenades him with 'Happy Birthday' from a balcony during tour of India

Prince threw rose to British tourist Trish Lewis when she started singing
Was serenaded as he walked along bustling Jew Street during tour
Prince spent birthday morning at luxury Kumarakom Lake Resort
Royal party booked 30 rooms at hotel which was guarded by 400 police
Presented with cake featuring portrait of him and Duchess of Cornwall

As the longest-serving heir to the throne in British history, Prince Charles is well versed in representing his country in a ceremonial role.

And yesterday, as he reached his landmark 65th birthday, he fulfilled his official duties in India with his usual style and bonhomie.

As he walked along bustling Jew Street in the city of Cochin, Kerala, he stopped in his tracks when he heard an English voice serenading him with a tuneful version of Happy Birthday from a balcony.

Charles waited until Trish Lewis finished singing and then threw her a gift-wrapped red rose a well-wisher had given him. 

After a little scrabbling, and to the prince’s cheers, the holidaymaker managed to grab the flower.

‘We couldn’t believe we were coming half way round the world and here they are,’ said Mrs Lewis, who sings with The Panda Players back home in Wendover, Bucks.

‘I feel so thrilled and flattered he threw me a rose. How wonderful. I just can’t believe it.’

As well as flowers, the prince was the recipient of no fewer than six birthday cakes yesterday – the last following a 75-minute flight from India to Sri Lanka.

At the High Commission in Colombo he was presented with a large carrot cake decorated with the Prince of Wales feathers.

For most people reaching the age of 65, such a relaxing and carefree day would be a fitting way to start slipping into a comfortable retirement.

But for the prince it marks the beginning of something more profound. With his mother the Queen now in her 88th year, he is likely to be asked to assume more and more of her duties as head of state.

His mission now – with his chosen consort Camilla at his side – is to prove himself a worthy king-in-waiting.

His first task – opening the Commonwealth Heads of Government conference in Sri Lanka today – is at best a challenge, at worst a diplomatic minefield.

Canada, India, and Mauritius have boycotted the meeting in protest at Sri Lanka’s alleged human rights abuses against its Tamil minority and the atmosphere in Colombo is crackling with tension.

But keeping the Commonwealth together through monumentally difficult times in the post-colonial era is one of his mother’s proudest achievements. 

It is now up to Charles to show the same leadership and qualities of conciliation.

Clarence House has refused to comment on whether Charles plans to raise in private the human rights issue with Sri Lankan president Mahinda Rajapaksa but Amnesty’s Steve Crawshaw urged him to take action.

‘Prince Charles is clearly in a difficult position representing the Queen who famously avoids politics in all contexts,’ he said.

‘But I very much hope that in private Prince Charles will make absolutely clear how dismayed anybody who cares about human rights would be, seeing what is happening in Sri Lanka today.

‘As the representative of the Queen he will no doubt choose his words carefully when speaking publicly, but I hope that even there we will see a reflection and understanding of how serious the problems are that Sri Lanka is facing, and one would hope that will not be swept under the carpet.’