Kiss for Camilla as royal couple start tour

Jenny Lohia gave Camilla a peck on the cheek when she placed a necklace of valuable shells around the royal’s neck as a welcoming present to the coastal settlement of Boera.

The Duchess proudly wore the piece that featured a large mother of pearl shell while the Prince of Wales was handed a similar gift which had two highly prized boar tusks.

Charles had earlier endeared himself to the nation when he spoke in Pidgin English, describing himself as the Queen’s pikinini in a speech to thousands at a cultural welcoming ceremony for the royal couple.

Charles referred to his Pidgin name “nambawan pikinini bilong misis kwin” – the number one child belonging to Mrs Queen – to cheers and applause.

Ms Lohia, a 24-year-old clerk who works for a liquid natural gas company, was topless and dressed in a sago leaf skirt and body paintings when she made the presentation to the Duchess.

She said afterwards: “She was happy when I kissed her. I just gave her a kiss because it was the first time I had seen her and Charles. I’m so proud of myself for giving her that kiss – it’s one in a million.”

The royal couple are visiting the pacific nation as part of their Diamond Jubilee tour and began their day cheered by a crowd of 5,000 as they arrived at the Sir John Guise Stadium in the capital Port Moresby.

After an open air church service where prayers were said for the Queen, who is Papua New Guinea’s head of state, Charles presented new colours to
the Royal Pacific Islands Regiment.

The prince is colonel-in-chief of the unit and wore its forest green-coloured uniform, complete with white gloves and a peaked cap for the ceremony in front of dozens of troops, while Camilla was dressed in a white Anna Valentine dress and carried a parasol and fan against the sweltering temperatures.