Royal Watch News

Prince Charles' meeting with 'best-friend' the Dalai Lama

Jun 21, 2012, 12:01 GMT

Prince Charles

Britain's Prince Charles spent an hour with 'best friend' the Dalai Lama yesterday (20.06.12).

The Prince of Wales chatted and held hands with the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader during the informal meeting at Clarence House.

The pair - who were joined by Charles' wife, the Duchess of Cornwall - have met several times before and the Dalai Lama says it was great to catch up again.

The 71-year-old spiritual figurehead - who is on a ten-day tour of Britain - said: 'I always consider him a very close, best of friends. Right from the beginning, I felt 'very nice person, good human'. He has proved a very wonderful, sensible, good human being.'

He also told Charles to carry on with his good work.

However, Clarence House would not release details of the discussions, only saying: 'It is a private meeting, the Prince of Wales sees the Dalai Lama as a spiritual leader.'

Later on, Duchess Camilla took the pair to see a magnolia spectrum tree the Dalai Lama planted in the royal garden during a visit in 2008.

The Dalai Lama also met around 80 of Charles' household staff who gathered to see the international figure.