By Hon. Justin Tkatchenko
Our virtual meeting this evening with Assistant Private Secretary to His Majesty the King - King Charles, Dr Nathan Ross, and Senior Staff to the Royal Family, Mr Alexander Stonor, from their respective offices in the United Kingdom.
Foreign Affairs Secretary, Mr Elias Wohengu, Chief of Protocol Mr Lucas Manduru, and Chief Coordinator of the Royal Visit Mr Jude Roa were also part of this meeting.
Dr Ross, and Mr Stonor have facilitated our communications with Buckingham Palace in preparation for the official attendance of a Member of the Royal Family at our 50th Independence Anniversary Celebrations, in September.
Direct communications through Chief Coordinator of the Royal Visit, Mr Roa, have enabled great progress in our preparations to this stage.
Mr Roa, also First Secretary to my Office, was recently appointed to head coordination of this historic ocassion.
Whilst we agreed at this evenings meeting, that an official announcement will be made once the respective schedules of Members of the Royal Family are confirmed, this evenings meeting was also an opportunity for us to provide a brief of our tentative program for the Celebrations.
This include; the Historic Opening of the New Courthouse and Judiciary Headquarters in Port Moresby; the Presentation of the Colours of the Papua New Guinea Defence Force; and the Official Lowering of the Australian flag, and Raising of Papua New Guinea's flag, on September 16.
These events back in history were officiated by King Charles 50 years ago, as a young Prince.
Our communications with Buckingham Palace have been made easier with the assistance of Dr Ross, a friend of Papua New Guinea, former Deputy High Commissioner of New Zealand to the country, prior to his current post as a member of the King's senior staff.
We look forward to finalising our preparations with the assistance of Dr Ross and Mr Stonor.