Following the signing of the landmark India–UK Free Trade Agreement, Prime Minister Narendra Modi met His Majesty King Charles III at Sandringham House during his visit to the United Kingdom.
As a gesture of shared environmental commitment, Prime Minister Modi presented King Charles with a tree sapling of Davidia involucrata ‘Sonoma’, commonly known as the Sonoma dove tree or handkerchief tree, to be planted later this autumn.
The sapling symbolises the Prime Minister’s newly launched national campaign, ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ (A Tree for Mother), which encourages individuals to plant a tree in honour of their mothers and to promote environmental sustainability.
The Sonoma dove tree is a striking ornamental variety, admired for its large white bracts that resemble fluttering handkerchiefs or doves. Unlike the traditional Davidia involucrata, which may take up to two decades to bloom, the ‘Sonoma’ cultivar is much faster to flower; typically producing blooms within just two to three years of planting.
Sharing details of the meeting on social media platform X, Prime Minister Modi wrote, "His Majesty King Charles III is very passionate about nature, environment and sustainable living. Thus, his joining the 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' (a tree for Mother) movement is very noteworthy and will inspire people around the world."
In another post, the Prime Minister said, "Had a very good meeting with His Majesty King Charles III. We discussed different aspects of India-UK relations, including the ground covered in trade and investment in the wake of CETA and Vision 2035. Other subjects of discussion included education, health and wellness, particularly Yoga and Ayurveda, which are subjects His Majesty is very passionate about. We also talked about environmental protection and sustainability.”
The British Royal Family also shared about the meeting on X. "This afternoon, The King received the Prime Minister of the Republic of India, Narendra Modi, at Sandringham House. During their time together, His Majesty was given a tree to be planted this Autumn, inspired by the environmental initiative launched by the Prime Minister, "Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam", which encourages people to plant a tree in tribute to their mothers,", the post read.
According to the Ministry of External Affairs, Prime Minister Modi conveyed his good wishes on the King’s recovery and return to official duties. The leaders held wide-ranging discussions on mutual priorities, including sustainable development, climate action, and collaboration in the Commonwealth.
- They agreed that the signing of the India–UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement marks a new chapter in bilateral cooperation. Prime Minister Modi also updated the King on India’s progress in the renewable energy sector and extended a formal invitation for a State Visit to India.
