Britain's Young Royal Couple Attracts Crowd To KLCC Park

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 14 (Bernama) -- More than 3,000 people thronged the Kuala Lumpur City Centre (KLCC) Park this morning for a glimpse of Britain's young royal couple Prince William and his wife Catherine.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, who arrived at 10.30am, were greeted by cheers from the public who arrived as early as 8am waving the Malaysian and British flags.

The pair were taken in a buggy from the KLCC shopping mall to the park, located in the shadows of the famed Petronas Twin Towers, where they then proceeded to shake hands and wave to the crowd.

The sounds of the 'kompang' and cultural performances by the National Arts and Culture Department (JKKN) enlivened the atmosphere.

Meanwhile, Catherine, who looked resplendent in a knee-length pearl white gown, wowed the crowd beside her handsome prince who wore a dark blue suit.

Prince William and Catherine, who is fondly known as Kate, were never short of smiles for the public and received roses from their admirers.

Priyenshar Sebastian, 19, who waited at the park since 8am with her friend Sangeeta Arokiasamy, 22, said words could not describe how happy she was to see the royal couple.

The HELP Institute student did not mind following Prince William and Kate as they walked along the park.

"Although we did not get a chance to shake their hands, we are happy and feel that this experience is surreal. Luckily we got a picture of them," said Priyenshar who wore earrings the shape of the British flag.

Scottish national, Lynn Maitland, 40, said she was ecstatic to have shaken hands and had a small chat with the couple.

"I am shaking, I can't describe my feelings. I never got the chance to get this close to the royal couple and they asked me and my friends a few questions about where am I staying here and my husband's workplace.

"William is so kind and Kate is so beautiful and she took the flowers we gave. We are so lucky to be standing at this spot," said Maitland who has lived in Malaysia for six years to accompany her Petronas-employed husband.

Adam Danish Iman Khuzaiman, 10, a Primary Four student at Sekolah Kebangsaan Taman Tun Dr Ismail 1 expressed his delight at being chosen to follow the school's 147-person entourage to the KLCC Park.

As a fan of the royal couple, he watched the wedding on television last year and could not wait to recount his experience to his friends and parents at home.

Accompanying teacher, Nur Halim Ahmad, 26, shared the same sentiment as other fans, adding they were at the park since 9.30am.

"Part of our group was made up of members of the school's Theatre Club and we were invited by the JKKN. I'm happy to be able to come along and get a live view of the couple," he said.

Earlier, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge visited the Asy-Syakirin Mosque at the end of the park and were welcomed by Federal Territories Religious Department (Jawi) director Datuk Che Mat Che Ali.

Kate donned a white scarf and her husband later signed a visitor's book before entering the prayer hall to hear the Al-Quran being recited and watch people perform ablution.

The couple, who toured the mosque, commended the design and structure of the mosque officated by the then Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin, on Aug 26, 2011.

Meanwhile, in SEPANG, Prince William and Kate left for Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, one of the chosen states during their official four-day visit as Duke and Duchess of Cambridge to Malaysia which began yesterday.

The couple departed from the KL International Airport Bunga Raya Complex at 4.45pm.

In Kota Kinabalu, they will be feted in a ceremony organised by the state government tonight and are scheduled to visit Lembah Danum, Sabah's main tropical rainforest, tomorrow.

Yesterday, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge paid a courtesy call to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and his wife, Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, at their official residence and had an audience with Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Abdul Halim Mu'adzam Shah and Raja Permaisuri Agong Tuanku Hajah Haminah during a royal banquet at the Istana Negara.

Apart from mingling with the public at KLCC Park, the couple also visited Hospis Malaysia, a charity organisation that offers professional palliative care to patients with life-limiting illness.

Malaysia is their second stop after Singapore on their nine-day tour to South-East Asia and the Asia Pacific, representing Queen Elizabeth II in conjunction with the celebration to mark the 60-year reign of the British monarch.

Prince William and Kate are scheduled to leave for the Solomon Islands on Sunday to continue their tour.