In a leaked diary, he described China's leaders at the 1997 ceremony as "appalling old waxworks", and he has been accused of deliberately side-stepping formal banquets during Chinese leaders' visits to Britain.ĭuring the 1986 royal visit to China, Prince Philip was overheard by a reporter making one of his most notorious remarks. William's father, Charles, has never visited mainland China, though he attended the handover of Hong Kong. London is anxious to improve its trade ties with the economic powerhouse. William's visit has been seen as an attempt by Britain to improve top-level diplomatic relations with Beijing. "It's been a long interest of mine for many years to come and visit China," he told Xi at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. William said he was looking forward to the remainder of his trip, which will see him visit the commercial hub of Shanghai before heading to an elephant sanctuary in the south-western province of Yunnan. "The British royal family has great influence not just in Britain but across the world," Xi said.
#Appalling old waxworks full
William was met by the Chinese leader on the first full day of a trip which comes as London and Beijing have traded diplomatic barbs over pro-democracy demonstrations in Hong Kong, a former British colony.īut the differences appeared to be put aside as Xi congratulated the 32-year-old prince on the expected birth of his second child. Xi warmly welcomed the second-in-line to the British throne, making the highest-profile visit to China by a member of the royal family since Queen Elizabeth II and her husband Prince Philip in 1986. Britain's Prince William met China's Communist President Xi Jinping today before strolling through the Forbidden City, the former home of the country's deposed imperial dynasties.