Is one a real sucker for housework, Charles?
PRINCE Charles showed he was no slouch when it comes to domestic chores and did a spot of vacuum cleaning on a visit to a firm in Singapore yesterday.
Domestic staff rarely come posher than the heir to the throne but, although it is unlikely that Camilla regularly asks him to put the vacuum cleaner around their royal residences, Charles, 68, still showed he was a dab hand.
At Dyson’s Singapore Technology Centre, he tried out the cordless cleaner after being shown a range of products developed by the company, started by British designer Sir James Dyson.
The Prince vigorously vacuumed the floor around the feet of a group of photographers then jokingly held up the vacuum’s head and threatened to give one a personal clean.
Talent
“You’ve got dirty trousers,” said a chuckling Charles.
Sir James, who made a fortune from his bagless cleaners – promoted with the slogan “Say Goodbye to the Bag” – was not there to show Charles around.
The tycoon, who sparked controversy by cutting 800 jobs and moving production from Wiltshire to the Far East in 2002, was understood to be in China on business.
Earlier, the Duchess of Cornwall demonstrated her talent for painting as she championed a healthy lifestyle for older people during a meeting with Singapore pensioners.
Camilla drew praise from a teacher when she showed off her artistic skills during a visit to the Tiong Bahru community centre in the city-state. Under the watchful eye of class leader Ang Royal art collection... Camilla sketches outline of a horse with brush and ink during visit to a community centre in Singapore yesterday Cheng Chye, Camilla sketched out an animal with a brush and black ink and joked: “This is a horse, I’m very happy to say.”
The artist said afterwards: “She was a very good painter. It looks like she may have had lessons. We’re going to frame this and put it on display.”
Charles and Camilla are on an 11-day tour of south-east Asia and India.
During her visit to the centre, the Duchess also saw a range of classes aimed at “active ageing”, including Japanese flower arranging, yoga and cookery.
In a yoga class for elderly people – which had participants in their 80s – Camilla revealed she does “a bit of” yoga and Pilates herself, and found deep breathing very relaxing, saying: “It’s very good for you.”
The Duchess, who turned 70 in July, added: “It makes you much more supple.
“I think it’s very important as you get older to take exercise and stretch.”