In pictures: Prince Charles visits Kew Gardens to plant 'knowledge tree' with Qatar's first lady, Sheikha Mozah (From Richmond and Twickenham Times)

In pictures: Prince Charles visits Kew Gardens to plant 'knowledge tree' with Qatar's first lady, Sheikha Mozah

2:57pm Friday 9th April 2010

• Print
• Email
• Share
• Comments(0)

The Prince of Wales made it a day to remember for excited youngsters who caught a glimpse of him strolling through the grounds of Kew Gardens in the spring sunshine.

Prince Charles, who was paying an official visit to the gardens to help open the Qur'anic Garden exhibition, even stopped to shake the hand of one young girl as he walked to the Princess of Wales Conservatory to plant a tree with Qatar's first lady, Sheikha Mozah.

India Foster, seven, curtsied for the prince after accidentally rushing across his path as she went to speak to her mum and was left thrilled when he stopped to shake her hand.

And three-year-old Millen Batra, of Marlborough Road, Chiswick, was similarly excited to catch a glimpse of a real-life prince.

His mum Alexa said her young son couldn’t believe his eyes, when he spotted Prince Charles.

She said: “He’s very into kings and swords at the moment so it was quite interesting for him to see the prince - he was very excited.”

Prince Charles and the Sheikha, chairwoman of the Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development, celebrated the opening of the new Qur’anic Garden exhibit.

They also looked on as a letter of intent for scientific cooperation between the Qatar Foundation and Kew Gardens was signed.

During the visit the prince and Sheikha planted a symbolic sidra tree, the first of its kind in Kew Gardens, as they marked the new plans for the sharing of knowledge between the two countries organisations.

The new relationship will also see Kew’s Millenium Seed Bank housing Qatari plant seeds in the future.

Professor Stephen Hopper, director of the Royal Botanical Gardens Kew, said that to have royalty plant the tree in the conservatory was a very special moment in the history of Kew.

He said: “We were extremely lucky to have her highness and the Prince of Wales come together and to plant a sidra tree as a symbol of our work between the Qatar foundation and Kew.

“It’s fantastic people around the world have contact with plants at many different levels and for different reasons and I think to have this connection between people and plants in this way is a compelling experience.”

Dr Saif Al Hajari, the Qatar Foundation’s vice chairman, added that he hoped the new exhibition would help people gain an insight into other cultures through plants.

He said: “The exhibition is intended to give visitors insight into the teaching of the holy Koran and to promote understanding between our cultures.

“His royal highness you have knowledge of plant culture and the part this plays in society and you are an inspiration to us all - we in Qatar are profoundly touched by your appreciation and knowledge of islamic plants and art.”

The Qur’anic Garden, which is made up all the plant species mentioned in the Qur’an, includes holy plants, such as fig, olive and pomegranate.

The exhibition at Kew holds examples of the plants to increase global awareness and promote understanding between cultures through a common interest in the environment and its preservation.

The exhibition is open now.

• Print
• Email
• Share
• Comments(0)