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TRH visit Bahrain's Shaikh Isa airbase and then travel to Abu Dhabi

26th February 2007

The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall toured a Bahraini air base before heading to Abu Dhabi today.

Their Royal Highnesses arrived at the Shaik Isa base, which was being buffeted by strong winds to watch a display of precision military flying.

The Duchess was greeted by the Bahraini Crown Prince, Sheikh Salman bin Hamad Al-Khalifa, and she laughed as she agreed with his suggestion: "Being blown away?"

Their Royal Highnesses took their seats in a marquee for the acrobatic jet display after The Prince inspected a guard of honour.

Their Royal Highnesses looked relaxed and sat back for the display by three Hawk trainer jets the Royal Bahraini Airforce has bought from British Aerospace.

As two jets flew directly towards the VIPs, another plane roared from behind, making The Prince and The Duchess jump and then laugh as they watched it soar into the sky.

Their Royal Highnesses then walked on to the tarmac to inspect the cockpit of a Hawk jet.

Inside one of the buildings, The Prince watched trainee pilots being put through their paces on a flight simulator.

The Bahraini air force pilots gain valuable experience on the machines, then graduate to the Hawk trainer jets and then finally fly F-16 fighter aircraft.

His Royal Highness, who was awarded his wings in 1971 and currently holds the rank of Air Chief Marshal in the Royal Air Force, tried out the flight simulator for himself.

Later in the day, The Duchess met leading businesswomen from the UK and Bahrain during a Women in Business Forum held at the Ritz Carlton Hotel.

Among those who attended the morning conference were Labour peer Baroness Symons, Chairman of the Saudi-British joint business council and fund manager Nicola Horlick, who runs her own business called Bramdean.

The businesswomen were giving their knowledge and expertise to the delegates who included men and women from across the Gulf.

At the same time, The Prince travelled to Muharraq, the old part of Bahrain’s capital, to see efforts to maintain traditional buildings and crafts.

The Prince took a guided tour through the narrow alleyways and was shown the restoration work at Bait al Kuraar, a traditional house which will become a centre for Bahraini embroiderers who hope to pass on their skills to the younger generation.

Their Royal Highnesses then left for the next leg of their Gulf tour, boarding a flight to Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates.

Soon after they arrived in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) today, Their Royal Highnesses paid their respects at the tomb of a Sheikh regarded as the father of the federation.

The Prince and The Duchess visited the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi, named after the man who oversaw major economic and social change in the seven Gulf emirates he helped form into one nation in 1971.

The Prince paid his condolences in person with The Duke of York when the Sheikh died in 2004.

As they stood before his mausoleum within the mosque, The Prince and The Duchess bowed their heads.

Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan became ruler of Abu Dhabi in 1966 and UAE President five years later, holding both posts up until his death.

The major figure helped form the seven emirates - Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ras Al Khaimah, Fujairah, Umm al Qaiwan and Ajman - into one federation after they gained independence from Britain.

He began building the mosque, which will be finished later this year, in 1995.

Their Royal Highnesses saw how workers were nearing completion of the impressive building which has four minarets, eight domes and can accommodate more than 40,000 worshippers.

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