British Asian Trust Dinner at Windsor Castle

The Prince of Wales was the host of a special dinner at Windsor Castle for nearly 200 guests to celebrate the “splendidly unstoppable” achievements of the British Asian community. The Prince also used the occassion to introduce The British Asian Trust.

His Royal Highness said: “Some of you may realise by now that I am one of those people who cannot resist the temptation to act rather than just talk. So earlier this year, I founded my British Asian Trust which seeks to support community projects in the UK and promoting sustainable development in south Asia. It is my sincere hope that The Trust will build upon the link between Britain and south Asia.”

During his speech to guests, including Home Secretary Jacqui Smith, the Prince praised the social and economic contributions the Asian community had made “to enrich Britain”. His Royal Highness also hailed the success of Asian sports stars and TV shows and films such as “East Is East” and “Bend It Like Beckham”.

Among the invited guests were comedian Sanjeev Bhaskar and his wife, writer and actress Meera Syal, author Vikram Seth, newsreader Krishnan Guru-Murthy, actor Art Malik and the who’s who of Asian businessmen and women.

In his speech, His Royal Highness told guests that two million people had settled in Britain from South Asia which was a remarkable shift in population. He said: “We hear a great deal about the difficulties that such migration can cause, but rarely do we find a moment to look at the remarkable contributions it can bring to the fabric of this country. That is why I was keen to invite you here this evening to shine a light on the diverse skills and pool of talent that you represent.”

The Prince said that Asian culture had a timeless depth that touched every street in Britain “not just the one which houses the Kumars at Number 42″.

His Royal Highness said: “We all have a role to play in shaping our society on the basis of tolerance and understanding. This is not always easy. Younger people of all ethnic backgrounds are trying to work out just where they fit in. What I have learnt from my travels is that by listening and trying to understand before we act we stand a better chance of coming up with the right answers.”