Nikesh Mehta

Counsellor for Foreign Policy and Security

Part of UK in Malaysia

1st August 2012 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Preparing for our Royal Visit!

Now that St James’s Palace has revealed that the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will be visiting Malaysia from 13 to 15 September to celebrate Her Majesty The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, I thought you might enjoy a unique insight into what it’s like to prepare for a Royal Visit. I plan to blog again just before Their Royal Highnesses arrive in Malaysia and then just after so that I can share some thoughts on how the visit went and my personal highlights.

For the last eight weeks, I have been working with the High Commissioner to oversee preparations for the entire programme. This means regular discussions with St James’s Palace and the Malaysian Government to ensure that the individual elements are coming together; that the programme strikes the right balance between formality and festivity; and that we factor in the security and media requirements.

As you may recall from my blog on the eve of the British Prime Minister’s visit to Malaysia, planning a visit of this magnitude can be a nerve-racking experience for the team involved as you try to work with your host country to nail down each and every detail. From media locations for the all-important arrival shots to transportation from Kuala Lumpur to the rainforest – no stone can be left unturned.

But one thing that I’m extremely grateful for is that we have a wonderful team in St James’s Palace to work with. The Royal Household came out to Malaysia in late-June for a recce visit and we must have shown them at least 20 different sites in Kuala Lumpur and Sabah.

The Household could not have been more accommodating or receptive, and we were able, at the end of that visit, to sketch out the main elements of the programme. I know that the Household was really taken with their visit to the rainforest, helped in no small part by an orang utang appearing five minutes after their arrival, and I’m so pleased that the Duke and Duchess agreed to keep this element in the final programme. Let’s hope the orang utan reappears during the actual visit!

I know from speaking to the Household that the Duke and Duchess are extremely excited to be visiting Malaysia and we hope that at some point over their three days here, the public will get a chance to see them. The Royal Couple will also visit a local charity and will meet His Majesty The Agong and Prime Minister Najib. The High Commissioner will also host a small Diamond Jubilee Tea Party – we will soon be announcing a special competition on our website, Facebook page and Twitter account where you could win an invitation to the party and perhaps even meet the Royal Couple!

I think it goes without saying that all of us in the High Commission are extremely excited and proud to be involved in this historic visit. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are a remarkable couple who have captured the hearts and imaginations of people around the world. I have no doubt that photos of the couple meeting Malaysians of all ethnicities in this stunning country will fill magazines and blogs from America to Australia.

8 comments on “Preparing for our Royal Visit!”

  2. I’m extremely excited and honoured that the Their Royal Highnesses will be visiting Malaysia. I earnestly hope to win the competition.

  3. What an exciting event to be a part of.
    Could I have your email address so that I can send a my personal story relating the royal couple to you.
    Good luck with the preparations!

  5. You’re lucky to be involved in the preparation. I am looking forward to take part in the competition.

  7. It is a very honoured activity to be in the preparation seats. Keep it up!! Looking forward to hear the news of it…

  8. Congratulations. You must be very excited with this visit. Well done and I hope I get a chance to see the wonderful couple.

Comments are closed.

About Nikesh Mehta

Nikesh (Nik) Mehta commenced his posting as Counsellor (Foreign Policy and Security) at the British High Commission in Kuala Lumpur in January 2012. This new role was created to strengthen…

Nikesh (Nik) Mehta commenced his posting as Counsellor (Foreign
Policy and Security) at the British High Commission in Kuala Lumpur in
January 2012. This new role was created to strengthen the British
Government’s relationship with Malaysia on issues such as Counter
Terrorism, Counter Proliferation and Transnational Crime.
Nik joined the Foreign Office in 2002 after nearly three years
working as a teacher in rural Japan. His first experience of culture
shock was trying to explain why he was vegetarian to a group of
sceptical Japanese students. Nik spent a year on the NATO desk in London
before serving in the Coalition Provisional Authority as the Political
Officer for southern Iraq based in Basrah.
In 2004, Nik was appointed as Second Secretary (Political) in Kampala
primarily responsible for reporting on conflict with the Lord’s
Resistance Army, the ensuing humanitarian crisis and the subsequent
peace talks in Juba. The posting was particularly poignant for Nik’s
family as his mother, a Ugandan-Asian, was expelled from the country by
Idi Amin’s forces in 1972.
For the last four years, Nik has served in the Foreign Office’s
Counter Terrorism Department, most recently as Head of the Guantanamo
and Rendition Issues Team.
Nik is in Kuala Lumpur with his Australian wife, Anna, and their
three year old son, Arran. You can follow him on Twitter @nikmehta33.

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