High Commissioner Ailsa Terry hosted a grand reception in Malaysia to celebrate King Charles III’s 76th birthday and highlight the strong ties between the UK

and Malaysia.

British High Commissioner to Malaysia Ailsa Terry hosted a grand reception in Kuala Lumpur today to celebrate King Charles III’s 76th birthday and honor the strong connections between the UK and Malaysia. The event was graced by YB Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad, Malaysia’s Minister of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability, as the guest of honour.

This reception, attended by around 700 guests, including members of Malaysian royalty, senior government officials, diplomats, and business leaders, was the first King’s Birthday Party hosted by Terry in Malaysia.

The event began with Minister Nik Nazmi offering a toast to the health and wellbeing of King Charles III, followed by High Commissioner Terry reciprocating with a toast to DYMM Seri Paduka Baginda Yang Di-Pertuan Agong.

In her speech, Terry highlighted the deep, longstanding bilateral relationship and the personal connections shared between the two countries:

"Since arriving in the country nearly one year ago and traveling to almost every state, I have seen firsthand how many shared connections bind the UK and Malaysia together. The relationship between our two countries feels personal. Everybody I have met has a UK story."

Terry emphasized the importance of these strong ties, especially in the current challenging global context. She expressed confidence that, regardless of the outcome of the upcoming UK General Election in July, Malaysia would remain a valued partner for the UK. She noted upcoming events, such as the resumption of British Airways flights between London and Kuala Lumpur and the UK’s entry into the CPTPP, which would enhance business opportunities and bilateral trade.

She also acknowledged King Charles’ resilience following his cancer diagnosis in February and his gradual return to official duties since April, praising his dedication to his Royal duties as inspirational.

Terry concluded her speech with a Malay pantun and extended her thanks to major sponsors of the event, including YTL Corporation, British Airways, EcoWorld, Orando Holdings, HSBC, Melbourne Capital Group, Bluestar AMG, Standard Chartered, Malaysian Airlines, and Berjaya Corporation.

Guests enjoyed a showcase of British food, culture, and music from England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland.