The Princess Royal in South Korea and Thailand

Tuesday 14th July - Busan and Seoul, South Korea

On her first day of engagements in South Korea, The Princess Royal, accompanied by Sir Tim Laurence, attended a service to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the Battle of Imjin River at the United Nations Memorial Cemetery. 

The Cemetery is the resting place for 2,339 soldiers, sailors and airmen, with casualties from the United Kingdom representing the highest total, and Canadians, Australians, New Zealanders and South Africans also buried within the grounds. The United Nations Memorial Cemetery in Korea is the only United Nations memorial cemetery in the world. 

Her Royal Highness was invited to lay the first wreath during the service of commemoration, and also lay a single white chrysanthemum on the grave of Private Martin Hogan who was killed on this date in 1952, aged 19, and served with the Black Watch. 

Following the ceremony, The Princess Royal met veterans of the Korean war.

Next, The Princess Royal and Sir Tim visited HD Hyundai Heavy Industries, one of the world’s largest shipbuilders. At the shipyard, Her Royal Highness heard about the UK–Republic of Korea industrial cooperation in the maritime and defence sectors, in particular Rolls-Royce's contribution to the Republic of Korea Navy’s Future Frigate programme. 

The Princess later had an audience with The President of the Republic of Korea, President Lee Jae Myung, at the Cheongwadae.

To end the day, Her Royal Highness joined a reception celebrating the UK–Republic of Korea partnership, hosted by the British Embassy Seoul. 

At the Reception, The Princess met representatives from across business, academia and culture, demonstrating the UK’s economic and cultural ties with South Korea. 

Guests included K-Pop band NMIXX, with whom the British Embassy has a girls’ empowerment partnership, and representatives of the city of Andong, visited by Queen Elizabeth II on her birthday during Her late Majesty’s State Visit to the Republic of Korea in 1999.

Wednesday 15th July - Seoul, South Korea

The Princess Royal began her day at Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP), designed by architect Dame Zaha Hadid. The Princess and Sir Tim Laurence attended UK-Korea Sustainable Fashion Futures, an exhibition developed by the British Council in partnership with the University of the Arts; Fashion, Textiles and Technology Institute and London College of Fashion. 

The exhibition, which features works by Korean alumni of UK fashion institutions, explores the future of fashion through sustainability, innovation and international collaboration. 

Her Royal Highness also learnt about their ‘Circle Black Project’ which focuses on circularity, and public participation through upcycled garments. The Princess Royal is President of the UK Fashion and Textiles Association.

The Princess Royal and Sir Tim Laurence later visited Korea University. During a short tour of the campus, Her Royal Highness saw examples of British-Korean academic, industrial and research collaboration in science and technology. 

The Princess visited a Smart Mobility Laboratory, where she saw demonstrations of a humanoid robot, a dual-arm robot and a motion capture system.

At a Semiconductor Laboratory Viewing Area, Her Royal Highness received a briefing from Dr AHN Hyun, Chief Development Officer of SK Hynix, Korea University’s industry partner for the semiconductors laboratory. 

With Korea University and University College London having signed a cooperation MoU in 2023 and now operating a joint fund to support science research projects, this visit reflects the importance of deepening UK–Republic of Korea cooperation in science, technology, and higher education. 

The Princess Royal also attended a reception with students from Commonwealth countries studying at the Korea University.

Finally, during Her Royal Highness’s visit to the Korean Headquarters of Save the Children, The Princess heard about the charity’s work, before joining a session with young students on the Youth Advocacy Programme, which focuses on children’s rights and youth climate action. 

Her Royal Highness was shown wall art celebrating Save the Children Korea’s “Red Goat” Project. Established by Save the Children Korea, the project supports communities in Africa by providing families with dairy goats. 

Established in South Korea in 1953 following the Korean War, Save the Children Korea has evolved from an emergency relief organisation to a focus on supporting vulnerable children and families through welfare, education, and protection programmes, while also promoting child rights awareness. The Princess Royal was President of Save The Children from 1970 to 2017, before becoming the charity’s Patron.

Thursday 16th July – Bangkok, Thailand

The Princess Royal began her day at a youth development event ‘Play for Change’ hosted by Chumchonmoobanpattana School. Sponsored by Liverpool Football Club Foundation and Save the Children, a charity of which Her Royal Highness is Royal Patron, the event brought together approximately sixty children from across Thailand.

The participating children face barriers to equal opportunities, and include children from refugee and migrant backgrounds, and poorer communities in Bangkok.

The Princess visited a classroom, meeting local pupils, and observing Liverpool Football Club Foundation delivering a series of football coaching activities to promote inclusion and build confidence through sport. Her Royal Highness also met Mr Emile Heskey, former Liverpool Football Club player, who officially launched the Liverpool Football International Academy Thailand last year.

Her Royal Highness then undertook an audience with Anutin Charnvirakul at Government House, the official office of the Prime Minister and Cabinet.

At the Grand Palace, The Princess paid her respects to The late Queen Sirikit, mother of King Vajiralongkorn and widow of the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej, who died on 24th October 2025 and The late Princess Bajrakitiyabha, daughter of King Vajiralongkorn, who died on 11th June 2026.

Her Royal Highness, accompanied by Sir Tim Laurence, had an audience with Their Majesties King Maha Vajiralongkorn and Queen Suthida at Amphon Sathan Residential Hall, their official residence in Bangkok.

Concluding the first day in Thailand, The Princess Royal and Sir Tim Laurence attended the British Embassy’s annual King’s Birthday Party, at which Her Royal Highness gave remarks. The Princess met guests from British businesses, Thai companies and investors, representatives from the Mission to Seafarers Thailand, and Thai Ministers.

At the celebration, Her Royal Highness viewed a photo exhibition of previous British Royal Visits to Thailand, a history of British sports in Thailand alongside the Carabao Cup, and a flower wall made into a Union Flag. At the end of the evening, The Princess met members of The Royal Thai Army Chamber Orchestra, performing at the event. 

Friday, 17th July - Bangkok, Thailand

On Friday, The Princess Royal met Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn on a visit to Chulalongkorn University to highlight the role of women in science and technology. 

On arrival, The Princess Royal was presented with a handheld flower garland and was driven in an electric tuk-tuk (MuvMi) around the campus, accompanied by the Chairman of the University. 

Her Royal Highness was then received by the Minister of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation before meeting Princess Sirindhorn. 

Afterwards, Her Royal Highness met five women innovators supported by UK programmes and delivered remarks and presented certificates in a ceremony recognising one Women in STEM Scholar and two Women in STEM Award recipients. Her Royal Highness was invited to lay flower garlands to pay respects to King Rama V (Chulalongkorn) and his son King Rama VI (Vajiravudh). 

Next, The Princess Royal visited Mahidol University to mark the launch of the ASEAN–UK Health Security Partnership (HSP) programme in Thailand, a five-year UK-funded programme. Co-developed with Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), and launched regionally in 2025, it supports countries across Southeast Asia to strengthen health security, build more equitable health systems and address climate-related health risks. 

The Princess Royal attended the opening session where Her Royal Highness met a melioidosis survivor featured during the programme. The Princess Royal observed laboratory work and met researchers during a tour of the Mahidol–Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit (MORU). 

The Princess Royal visited the National Museum of Thailand. In the Throne Hall, Her Royal Highness saw displays of British-related artefacts, including the original Bowring Treaty which marked the beginning of diplomatic relations between the UK and Thailand and archive materials illustrating the history of the British Embassy in Bangkok. 

Her Royal Highness also saw the Royal Funeral Chariot Building to observe the collection of ceremonial chariots which are under renovation ahead of being used for the funerals of Her late Majesty Queen Sirikit, The Queen Mother, and Her Royal Highness The late Princess Bajrakitiyabha. In the Prapas Phiphithaphan building, The Princess Royal viewed items presented by Queen Victoria to King Rama IV, including a collection of globes and a miniature train. 

To conclude the day, The Princess Royal visited the National Theatre of Thailand to watch a Royal Variety performance. Her Royal Highness met representatives from the Ministry of Culture and viewed a Thai craft exhibition before watching the show. The performance included a string quartet playing a medley of Thai and UK compositions, an inaugural performance of the theatre play ‘The King’s Command’ written by His Majesty King Rama VI and a music and dance performance by traditional Thai musicians. 

The Princess Royal met the costumed performers at the conclusion of the performance.