Prince Charles arrives on a low-key visit

"We ae growing," replied a soldier from the Indian 2 Gorkha Rifles, proudly. In India the strength of Gorkha battalions has grown to 38.

The Gorkhas serve in the British, Indian and Nepali Army and have a ceremonial role in the forces in Brunei.

Prince Charles was the Colonel of the Regiment of the British 2 Gorkhas and met soldiers as his first engagement upon alighting from his aircraft on the soil of the nation that was once the jewel in the British Empire.

Charles's nine-day visit began with this meeting and a quiet evening with newly arrived High Commissioner Michael Arthur at the latter's residence.

Charles is probably the one of the more exalted guests that Arthus will put up on his top floor guest room.

Rather than stay in a five-star hotel, Charles will stay in the High Commissioner's residence as his guest, and in Jaipur and Jodhpur, with the maharaja of Jaipur and Jodhpur.

In the course of his visit, Charles will spend one afternoon observing the operations of the dabbawalas of Mumbai, will watch a Bollywood movie being shot, meet NGOs in Delhi, young entrepreneurs and citizens of Delhi at a function organised by the British Council, of which he is an important patron and will take a ride in the Delhi Metro.

Charles's visit is largely ceremonial but a huge social event that has aroused the competitive instincts of Delhi's chatterati. Security in all venues is tight and entrance strictly regulated.

Unlike his mother the Queen whose India visit about five years ago set off a controversy because of her Amritsar visit, Charles will interface with symbols of modern India.

Sources said these visits had been chalked out during the meeting with the Prince's officials. However, the programme would be finalised after an official meeting tomorrow which would take into consideration the security aspects, they added.