Mumbai: It was a moment to be freezed on camera as the rustic tiffin service providers the 'dabbawalas' rubbed shoulders with royalty, when the heir to the British throne Prince Charles walked into the Western Railway Headquarters in Mumbai to interact with them today (Nov 24).

The Prince, dressed in a blue suit, arrived at the lawn of the heritage building in south Mumbai, accompanied by a team of security personnel and a translator in tow.

The dabbawalas, mostly from western Maharashtra, all donning their trademark pristine white 'pyjama- kurta' and the Gandhi cap, neatly lined up in rows outside Churchgate station and welcomed the British heir with the traditional Indian 'namaste', which was immediately reciprocated by the Prince.

The city's famous 'dabbawalas' had their five minutes of fame as they explained their well worked colour coding system and the entire process involved in ensuring that the tiffins reached the right persons at the right place and right time even as the shutterbugs went clicking without ceasing.

The Prince of Wales was presented with a jasmine and rose garland, a brown and red bordered shawl and a silver plaque carrying the name of the tiffin providers' association.

But when the Prince was urged to don a Gandhi cap, presented by one of the dabbawalas, he politely but firmly refrained from acceding to the request, disappointing many of the media personnel, just waiting to capture the moment.

However, those who were not disappointed were the scores of people outside Churchgate station, who screamed out to the Prince and waved at him, urging him to shake hands with them, which the Prince agreed to.

PTI