Supreme Welcome for Prince Charles

As Prince Charles took his seat, children from the Prince of Wales Secondary School, the Methodist Girls High School and the Wilberforce Primary School welcomed him in unison. Under the direction of Lawrence Spencer-Coker, the distinguished Master of Ceremony, thousands of kids recited a short welcome: "His Royal Highness - The Prince of Wales, Welcome to Sierra Leone", followed by rapturous applause from the crowd of about three thousand invited guests.
Moments earlier, the Prince had been welcomed by the National Dance Troupe of Sierra Leone with a performance of song and dance. The prince then had a go at drumming with the National Dance Troupe. He was presented with his own pair of drumsticks. The event took place at the Freetown Golf club ideally situated in the capital, Freetown, on the Lumley Beach road.
In the company of Solomon Berewa, the Vice President of Sierra Leone, the Mayor of Freetown and other dignitaries, including the President of the Freetown Golf club, Prince Charles and the royal event goers were entertained by the Freetong Players, who did a specially prepared skit on the effects of deforestation, an issue that is close to the heart of the Prince.
Artists from Supreme Records under the direction of Nicky Spencer-Coker, the Vice-President added contemporary spice to proceedings with masterpiece performances. The Supreme musicians were the only ones appointed to perform contemporary music at the royal event. Songs performed from the Grand Award winning album - Supreme Hits Volume One: The Collection were: YouthMan who performed Bigtime Reggae; SKYY with Hand in Hand; Lucky Rock with Salone Music and the Vlicious One, V who wowed the audience with This Christmas. The Freetong Players performed Thomas Peters, 1787 and Freetong. The Prince of Wales School Brass Band from Sierra Leone had the distinction of entertaining the crowd and the Prince.
Earlier, the Prince who flew into Sierra Leone on the Royal Jet, was greeted at the Lungi International Airport by President Ahmad Tejan Kabbah and the UK's High Commissioner to Sierra Leone, Sarah MacIntosh.

"I know only too well...Sierra Leone has suffered so deeply and so tragically" Prince Charles
Prince Charles left the celebrations to attend a presidential reception as Guest of Honour at the State Lodge.
He told the country's leading figures that the UK had a special relationship with Sierra Leone.
"Our two nations, two Commonwealth partners, share a long and close friendship and I know only too well within the lifetime of everyone here Sierra Leone has suffered so deeply and so tragically," he said.
It was "heartbreaking for people like myself to watch it happen", he added.
Tens of thousands of people were killed, millions displaced and many atrocities committed during the conflict.
The Prince said: "Already today amongst the groups of people I've met I've seen encouraging evidence of the new Sierra Leone determined to turn away from those dark years."
Prince Charles praised the "truly remarkable" role of British armed forces who helped bring stability to the country towards the end of the war.
President Kabbah told the Prince: "Although your stay will be brief we hope it will create lasting memories, friendship, trust and goodwill between our two countries."
Prince Charles was expected to spend less than 24 hours, making a couple of other visits in Sierra Leone before heading off to Nigeria.