Prince William is in Singapore this week on official business, but stopped to take in the Rain Vortex at Jewel Changi Airport, expressing amazement and astonishment at the word’s tallest indoor waterfall.
Prince William Visits Jewel Changi Airport
The 41-year-old heir to the British throne is in Singapore this week to present the annual Earthshot Prize that recognizes innovation in tackling environmental challenges and for his United For Wildlife program, which works to “protect our natural world from the international criminal gangs intent on plundering it.”
William, traveling solo, blamed the exams of his eldest son George, 10, who is third in line to the British throne, for why Catherine, Princess of Wales, did not join him.
“Catherine is very sorry she can’t be here. She is helping George through his first set of major exams.”
Upon arriving at Singapore Changi Airport, the Prince of Wales was escorted to Jewel Changi Airport, then shown both the Shiseido Forest Valley and HSBC Rain Vortex (apparently everything is branded these days…)
As he looked up with amazement, William remarked, “It’s enormous.”
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Ms Sim Ann, Senior Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and National Development, accompanied him on the tour and then helped navigate through crowds which had gathered to greet him.
The Strait Times reports that one man lined up who had snapped photos of Princess Diana while on a trip to London in 1992. He presented those to William, to which the Price of Wales gratefully responded, “It’s for me? Thank you very much.”
There is no doubt that Jewel and particularly the Rain Vortex are an impressive site. It understandable why William was amazed, especially when compared to Heathrow Terminal 5…
As an aside, Prince William reportedly flew on BA11 from London Heathrow (LHR) to Singapore, arriving 26 minutes behind schedule at 4:21 PM. It is not clear if he flew first class.
image: princeandprincessofwales / Instagram // hat tip: SINJIM
While his embarrassing brother is back in Vegas, at the scene of his famous 2012 naked party incident. Right up there with, but slightly behind his Nazi costume party soirée.
Thank god William was born first and not his Cuck brother.
Lay off Prince Harry. He gives great headache.
Dang that is one triggered snowflake of an incel…
Singapore was once a Colony of England, and began its existence as the poorest nation in Asia. It’s now the richest nation in Asia – one of the richest in the world – and it’s people are better off under essentially every measure of human welfare then the people of their former colonist – and well within a single lifespan. One could say that Singapore’s success is miraculous, but what I find much more miraculous is how few countries have tried to copy it’s development strategy.
Singapore is absolute proof that neither colonization nor historical poverty is a bar to massive achievements and human flourishing, and UK is absolute proof that being a colonizer and the long time richest country in the world is no bar to regression and widespread poverty.
@Mak: agree with your comments. On the other hand, look what HK used to be under the British influence and what is now under China. While Singapore is booming, HK is going downhill and is now unrecognizable when compared to what it used to be.
I think this is overstatement. Hong Kong has suffered due to an insane Covid policy, but Hong Kong is still an extremely vibrant place and certainly more vibrant than anyplace in Europe or the Americas, and still has a per capita income roughly 15% higher than the UK. Hong Kong wasn’t a democracy under UK rule, and still isn’t, but it’s nonetheless a great place to live and do business – although Singapore has certainly overtaken it in many key ways.
More vibrant than any place in Europe and Americas? Really? Maybe you should read these articles here. I think HK will never recover but it is not due to Covid.
https://www.cnn.com/2023/11/03/economy/hong-kong-nightlife-china-dst-intl-hnk/index.html
https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/short-reads/article/3236210/hong-kong-has-lost-its-mojo-we-all-know-why-night-vibes-hong-kong-campaign-re-energise-nightlife
Why would I have to read articles when I’ve been to Hong Kong countless times and I’ve lived in several different cities in Europe and the Americas. I have always preferred Hong Kong to these other places, and I still do.
Singapore only became an independent state long after the UK withdrew from South East Asia. It was part of a place called Malaya. Malaya itself was a very properous rubber producer and the island of Singapore was a major regional port built by Stamford Raffles – who the famous hotel and quite a lot more of Singapore is named after.
Perhaps check your facts before you post? It will make you look less stupid.
No. Malaya became independent before Singapore. When Singapore was later granted independence by the UK, it became part of what was then called Malaysia (a combination of Malaya and Singapore). After Muslim race riots failed to intimidate the Chinese majority in Singapore into electing a Malay dominated local government which would subjugate their interests to the Malay majority of Malaysia, Singapore was ejected from the union. Malaysia expected to retake Singapore under more favorable terms that limited the rights of the Chinese majority there, but instead Singapore thrived as an independent nation.
“international criminal gangs intent on plundering”
Sounds like a good description of Will’s ancestors.
@Matthew: “As an aside, Prince William reportedly flew on BA11 from London Heathrow (LHR) to Singapore, arriving 26 minutes behind schedule at 4:21 PM. It is not clear if he flew first class.” What are the chances he flew in a middle seat in coach? LOL!
Interesting, I know Running Man (popular variety show in S Korea… and all of SE Asia) was also spotted for shoots earlier this week… Singaporeans have a lot of celebrity sightings!
I managed to route myself via SIN recently as I’ve never visited and the Jewel is fabulous – even without a Minister as a tourist guide 🙂 I also saw the butterfly garden but must check out the rooftop swimming pool next time.
This story brings to mind the story from last April “REPORT: KING CHARLES REJECTS OFFER BY LONDON HEATHROW TO NAME TERMINAL 5 IN HIS HONOR”
Prince William marveled at a wonderful public facility that millions of commoners (including you status elites :-), can enjoy while visiting loved ones. European cities are vibrant and wonderful tourist attractions due centuries of public works. Prince Charles rejected his name on a public use terminal due to “climate change” concerns even as he traveled around in a private jet which is far more wasteful. Do the commoners deserve to enjoy a visit to their distant loved ones?
American airports send a message about the general lackluster culture, quite frankly. Despite post 9-11 security in place keeping the vagrants and beggars out of them, they remain largely uncomfortable places with lack of comfortable seating or places for long transfer passengers to nap, poorly priced food options, and lack of places for children to play. Not only that, American airports lack a place for international transfer passengers to wait without having to go through passport control. Singapore and Hong Kong and heck, most other European airports put American ones to shame.
Americans pursue elite status to try to enjoy a simulacrum of what European and East Asian airport users enjoy by default.
Little known trivia fact,the British experienced one of their worst defeats during ww2 in Singapore
This is not trivia, and all educated people know this.