THE exiled Prince of Burma was guest of honour at a special ceremony in Brentford to celebrate the inauguration of the Royal Barge.
The Royal Barge Karaweik is moored on the River Thames at Waterman's Park, Brentford High Street and His Royal Highness Prince Schwebomin was among a host of other dignitaries to attend the event on Wednesday which was Burmese Independence Day.
With traditional Burmese hospitality the ceremony included the firing of rockets, the hoisting of the royal Burmese flag and the appointment of Caie Wesley Graham as Master and Commander of the Royal Barge.
It was followed by the Candles for Burma ceremony where each light represented a Burmese refugee in Thailand.
Prince Schwebomin himself has spent 44 years in exile. He left Burma when he was 13-years-old and is head of the 250 year Royal Konebaung Dynasty.
He is founder and president of the Royal Burma Society which provides humanitarian, spiritual and financial support for the Burmese people including the refugees stranded in Thailand and the YMCA orphanage in Yangon.
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