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The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall have been given a glimpse of village life in Papua New Guinea.

A choir of women in floral shirts and grass skirts welcomed the couple, who are on a tour to mark the Queen's Diamond Jubilee year, to Boera.

The pair were shown crafts, canoe building and an aid project before a state dinner in capital Port Moresby.

Prince Charles, colonel-in-chief of the local Royal Pacific Islands Regiment, earlier inspected a military parade.

Dressed in the forest green uniform of the regiment, he presented infantrymen with new colours at the Sir John Guise Stadium in Port Moresby.

In a speech, he introduced himself in the local Tok Pisin language as the "first child of Mrs Queen", which brought cheers and applause from the crowd of about 5,000 people.

His words translated as: "I bring you greetings from Her Majesty the Queen of Papua New Guinea and from all my family members during this celebration of the Diamond Jubilee."

The event also included an open-air church service, in which prayers were said for the Queen, while the local culture was showcased in dance and music.

Tribes from across Papua New Guinea were present, including Huli men with their yellow painted faces and Asaro mudmen, with large false heads and bodies covered in grey clay.

The royal couple arrived on the island on Saturday on the first leg of a two-week tour of Commonwealth countries, which will also see them visit Australia and New Zealand.

It is the fourth time Prince Charles has visited Papua New Guinea but the first time for Camilla.

During a visit to the National Bird of Paradise and Orchid Garden, the Duchess of Cornwall was presented with a rare hybrid orchid named in her honour, the Dendrobium Camilla.

At Boera village, hundreds of residents turned out to greet Prince Charles and the duchess.

Jenny Lohia, 24, topless and dressed traditionally in a leaf skirt and body paintings, gave Camilla a peck on the cheek as she placed a necklace of shells around her neck as a welcoming present.

They royal couple were shown local painting, weaving and pottery and toured the aid project concerned with the replanting of coastal mangroves.

The couple were guests of honour at the state dinner later, which was hosted by governor general Sir Michael Ogio and his wife.