Prince Michael of Kent gave a royal boost to charity Care for Children during the opening day of the Royal Norfolk Show.

On his first visit to the show, he was greeted by charity founder Robert Glover and assistant director (Thailand) Thomas Abbot and sampled a traditional cup of Emperor Tea and a dim sung.

The charity's stall (number 33) at the show this year aims to promote its work specialising in developing family placement care for orphaned and abandoned children all over Asia but particularly in China.

The charity – of which Prince Michael is patron – has worked tirelessly for 15 years, building links with children in the poorest parts of China, providing homes with foster families.

It also plays a vital role in opening the gateway for improving effective business communication between countries.

The charity is the first such venture to see British and Chinese governments cooperating and developing open relationships between them on this level.

It has recently signed a three-year contract with the Chinese government which will establish 20 new first line sites in the poorer western provinces of China where the family placement scheme will be further developed over the next three years.

Mr Glover said: 'This partnership has helped 25,000 orphans and abandoned children to date, a remarkable success story for Sino-UK relationships. The future is very bright between the two countries.'

The prince seemed delighted as he watched the lunch time Norfolk Salutes parade in the Grand Ring which included members of Norfolk based Armed Forces including Royal Navy HMS Dauntless crew, Royal Anglian Regiment, Light Dragoons, Royal Army Medical Corps, Army Air Corps and Royal Auxiliary Air Force.

He later delivered a speech as patron at the Chinese-Britain networking event, organised jointly by Care for children, Norfolk County Council, Norfolk Chamber of Commerce and China Britain Business Council.

The Prince said: 'It's an excellent charity to be involved with. China has evolved positively over the past few years and I have been proud to see the work they do in Asia first hand.

'There are so many abandoned children that I have faith will find a caring home under the watchful eye of Care for Children. Having these new sites will allow first hand support within the Asian communities for abandoned children and will act as a lifeline for their foster families.

'The Chinese government have responded extremely positively, and I feel strongly that the charity is playing an inaugural part in forging vital links between China and Britain.'