News
TRH open the Tutankhamun and The Golden Age of the Pharoahs exhibition at the O2 Centre
13th November 2007
The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall today opened an eagerly anticipated exhibition dedicated to artefacts found in the ancient tomb of Egyptian pharaoh Tutankhamun.
Accompanied by the First Lady of Egypt Suzanne Mubarak, whom The Duchess had earlier welcomed to Clarence House, Their Royal Highnesses toured the stunning new exhibition which is being held at the O2 centre in Greenwich, London.
Upon arrival, The Prince and The Duchess were greeted by local schoolchildren complete with King Tut headdresses.
Their Royal Highnesses shook hands with the enthusiastic youngsters before touring the exhibition, which is due to open to the public on Thursday.
The exhibition, titled Tutankhamun and The Golden Age of the Pharaohs, is made up of more than 130 items excavated from the tomb of the boy king.
The items are on display in London for the first time in over 35 years.
The Prince and The Duchess were guided by Dr Zahi Hawass, Secretary General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities in Egypt.
Their Royal Highnesses were enthralled as they gazed on artefacts more than 3,000 years old excavated from the tomb of Tutankhamun.
"Fascinating," said The Prince as he was shown a bust of the boy king.
They then witnessed the installation of the final artefact in the exhibition, a canopic jar lid of Tutankhamun.
As Dr Hawass carefully placed the alabaster head in its cabinet The Duchess said: "It is extraordinary."
The show continued with two of the highlights of the exhibition, a royal crown found on the mummified head of Tutankhamun and one of the gold and precious stone inlaid coffinettes that contained his embalmed internal organs.
Their Royal Highnesses also met the granddaughter of Lord Carnarvon, the man who financed the dig that uncovered the forgotten tomb.
Speaking after the exhibition, Dr Hawass said The Prince was "very interested" by what he had seen.
He added: "The Prince is an intelligent man, he was very keen to find out about the exhibition which started in the Valley of the Kings last week.”
After their tour of the exhibition, Their Royal Highnesses attended a reception and met 9-year-old Sarann who is the main carer for her severely visually impaired mum, Lesley.
Sarann gets support from Barnardo’s, the leading children’s charity of which The Duchess of Cornwall is President.
The Duchess recently took on the Presidency and earlier today visited High Close School in Wokingham in the first engagement of her new role. Click here to read the news story.