Overseas Duties
The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall are among the United Kingdom's most important ambassadors.
Every year, Their Royal Highnesses travel abroad at the request of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office to further British diplomatic interests, raise the UK’s profile in the country visited and promote British excellence.
Overseas visits enable The Prince to familiarise himself with a wide range of international issues and to meet many Heads of State and senior officials.
His Royal Highness often represents The Queen at overseas events, such as state funerals.
The Prince tries to find ways for his 20 charities, known as The Prince’s Charities, to work for the benefit of the international community and often visits projects set up by his own charities during overseas visits.
For example, Youth Business International (YBI) has helped more than 14,000 disadvantaged young people around the world to become entrepreneurs.
His Royal Highness launched The Prince of Wales’s Bhumi Vardaan Foundation in the course of his visit to India in March 2006, an organisation which promotes responsible farming to ensure a sustainable future on the land for smaller farmers and their descendants.
Commonwealth countries account for a large part of The Prince of Wales's overseas travel schedule. In November 2009 Their Royal Highnesses visited Canada for 12 days, starting in St. John’s, Newfoundland, travelling to Toronto, Victoria, Vancouver, Ottawa and Montreal.
Watch videos from the visit.