HERE’S a royal visit with a difference.

The Queen Mother of Bhutan, Her Majesty Gyalyum Sangay Choden Wangchuck, is in Canberra today and tomorrow, October 22-24.

Hosted by the Australian Himalayan Foundation, she will meet with ACT Chief Minister Katy Gallagher today for a tree planting ceremony at the National Aboretum and meet Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade official and Federal politicians.

Patron of the AHF’s Girls’ Education Program and the Royal Textile Academy of Bhutan, her ten-day visit to Australia will focus on raising funds for the support of women and girls, ensuring their access to a quality education and to safe work and life opportunities.

She will attend an exhibition of Bhutanese textiles at the NGA tomorrow evening,Thursday October 23, hosted by the NGA and the Honorary consul to Bhutan, Catherine Harris.

Hers is no passing interest in textiles. In 2004 Her Majesty established the Royal Textile Academy of Bhutan, which serves as an educational centre in the traditional art of weaving, preserving the culture of Bhutanese textiles and conserving their role as a traditional source of enterprise for rural women.

On Thursday 23 October she will also be given an official welcome by Tom Calma, Chancellor of the University of Canberra, and meet with members of the Bhutanese community.

The Australian Himalayan Foundation works closely with the Queen Mother’s charitable organisation RENEW of which she is both the founder and patron and whose work focuses on the development of women and girls from impoverished and remote communities.