Prince Charles Had ‘Awkward’ Evening With President Saparmurat Niyazov During Royal Tour

Prince Charles reportedly faced an awkward moment during one of his royal tours years ago.

In 1996, the future King went to Turkmenistan in Central Asia, and he faced a challenging situation while spending the evening with former President Saparmurat Niyazov.

Royal author Robert Hardman recounted the encounter between the two heads in his book “Queen of the World.” According to him, Niyazov disliked dogs and music but he was obsessed with horses.

While at his home, Prince Charles awkwardly avoided not being given a horse as a present. After all, Niyazov’s gift-giving of horses to foreign dignitaries has become a source of repeated diplomatic problems. This is because the heads of states found it challenging to figure out a way to bring the horse back to their respective countries.

For instance, Niyazov gave former British Prime Minister John Major a steed during his trip to Turkmenistan. In order to bring the horse home, the animal had to be transported by train to Moscow first before it was flown to the United Kingdom.

“So when the Prince of Wales arrived in Turkmenistan in 1996, the foreign office had one very clear instruction for the new British Ambassador Neil Hook, and the Prince’s officials: no more horses,” Hardman wrote.

But despite the clear instructions, Niyazov still tried to convince Prince Charles that owning another horse wasn’t such a bad idea.

“It was a tense evening as the royal convoy pulled up at the president’s floodlit pink palace. Niyazov was in expansive form… ‘Look at my house,’ he told the Prince. ‘Isn’t it beautiful?’” he asked.

After exchanging brief greetings, Niyazov took Prince Charles by the arm and led him down to see a vast equestrian arena, where an energetic display of Turkmen horsemanship was laid on for the prince’s benefit.

According to Hardman, it appeared as though Niyazov was about to offer Prince Charles a horse any minute. Prince Charles was able to deflect it by reiterating that he was no longer active in racing and wasn’t in need of another horse.