MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

UK MBE honorary consul in Punta Arenas invites Prince Charles to Patagonia

Rees receive MBE title from Prince Charles

British honorary consul in Punta Arenas, extreme south of Chile, John Rees said he felt greatly moved and proud after having been awarded the MBE, Member of the British Empire honour by Prince Charles, currently visiting Chile.

However emotions aside he invited Prince Charles and Camilla to visit Chilean Patagonia and Punta Arenas.

“This acknowledgement makes me very proud; it’s highly emotional having been honoured. In most jobs good things are taken for granted and mostly inadvertently, but in this case this recognition is most moving”, said consul Rees on Monday evening at the British ambassador’s residence.

The ceremony was strictly private with Mr. Rees limited to eight guests.

Mr. Rees has been UK honorary consul in Punta Arenas for seventeen years.

“Prince Charles told me it was his first visit to Chile, the only member of the royal house not to have visited the country. He said he was marvelled with Chile, very much interested in Patagonia and the wildlife so I invited him to come to Punta Arenas and Magallanes Region” revealed Mr. Rees who admitted he was impressed by the Prince of Wales natural charm and plainness.

Mr. Rees brother, Allan Rees a doctor who lives in the US and was present at the ceremony recalled that the family is of Welsh origin, “my great-great grandfather came to Chile, but we are Chileans to the bone, so this honour extended to my brother is something very special”.

“If the Prince of Wales makes it to Chile again, and travels to the Magallanes region he will be able to enjoy one of his preferred dishes, lamb”, said the Rees brothers.

Patagonian lamb was precisely the main course at the dinner with which Chilean President Michelle Bachelet honoured the royal couple at Government house, Palacio de la Moneda.