MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Prince Charles underscores close links with Chilean navy

Prince Charles and Navy Admiral Rodolfo Codina arrives to Chilean Army headquarters in Valparaiso (Photo EPA)

The Prince of Wales returned to his Royal Navy roots on Tuesday when he visited a British frigate now in service with Chile. Charles, a former mine-sweeper commander, toured the frigate Almirante Condell with the Duchess of Cornwall during a trip to the Chilean city of Valparaiso.

The Prince spent nine months in charge of HMS Bronington in 1976 and during his five years in the navy famously grew a beard.

Charles and Camilla met senior officers from the Chilean frigate, originally HMS Marlborough. The type 22 frigate was sold with two other similar warships to Chile in 2005 for £135 million.

The vessel was moored in Valparaíso port with seven other warships and welcomed the royal party with a guard of honour and a military band playing a few verses from both the British and Chilean national anthems.

Naval links between the UK and the South American country go back almost 200 years to when the British sea hero Lord Cochrane reorganised the country's fleet. According to naval historians Lord Cochrane ranks only second to Lord Nelson and was dubbed the “sea wolf” by Napoleon for his exploits fighting the French.

Chile’s head of the Navy Admiral Rodolfo Codina said it was a privilege to have the Prince of Wales visit the naval base “which confirms the very close and long standing links between the two navies”.

Admiral Codina said that “on several occasions and along the years we have purchased vessels from the Royal Navy, some second hand, others refurbished or ordered new ones” like the cruises Latorre.

Furthermore “our uniforms are virtually the same, be it not for the buttons, crest and caps”, he added.

The Chilean top officer also recalled that all members of the royal family who have been to Chile including Queen Elizabeth II in 1968 visited the Chilean Naval Academy, and Prince Anne did so on several occasions.

The Prince of Wales and Camilla arrived Sunday and on Monday had an audience with President Michelle Bachelet. On Wednesday they fly for Brazil.

So far the tour of Chile has been one of cheers for the royal couple which has been applauded by onlookers. On a few occasions Charles forgot about protocol and reached past police lines to shake hands with admirers.

Later on Tuesday the prince and wife Camilla toured the Emiliana vineyard in Chile's Casablanca valley, pioneers in organic wines.

On Monday night during the gala dinner hosted by President Michelle Bachelet Prince Charles spoke out for sustainable development projects and warned time is running out to save the world from the ravages of climate change, economic meltdown and a flood of “environmental refugees”.

“If we do nothing, the consequences for every person on this earth will be severe and unprecedented, with vast numbers of environmental refugees, social instability and decimated economies -- far worse than anything which we are seeing today” warned the Prince.

“How can we begin to address poverty if we haven't first ensured our planet is actually inhabitable?” he said.

Charles has long advocated urgent measures to reduce carbon emissions and has also proposed issuing long-dated bonds to help fund sustainable development projects in countries where tropical rainforest is being wiped out.

The royal couple is on a ten day tour of South America which also includes Brazil, Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands