Vaisakhi Reception at St James's PalaceDate: Thursday, 24 April, 2008

Harbinder and I are very keen to find a way of helping and celebrating with all of you, or at least with some of the Sikh community, the Festival of Vaisakhi and it has been an enormous pleasure to welcome all of you here, some of whom I know we have met on previous occasions. I was so pleased to hear about the plans to build two new Gurdwaras, one in Leamington Spa and one in Gravesend, and I have received many invitations to come and open Gurdwaras to attend various celebrations, whether I can manage them all, I am not sure.

But nevertheless, I have been so impressed by the way in which the Sikh Community raises money and does so many remarkable good works all over this country. More than anything, I am particularly grateful to the “Gabru Punjab de” dance troupe for their marvellous assistance in helping to make the celebrations even more special. As Chairman of the Royal Collection’s Trust, I must admit to a certain amount of anxiety at one point that a sword or two might go through the painting behind the stage - fortunately not! It was wonderful to see their performance. My wife and I were slightly disappointed that there were no further demonstrations of sword wielding skills such as we saw a year or so ago, but I am not going to volunteer to place a melon on my chest!