Charles the castaway

Prince Charles prepared to fly home from his last overseas tour as a single man today with plans for his first official trip abroad with Camilla Parker Bowles already under way.

As the prince spent the last day of his visit on Castaway Island, Fiji, details of the joint tour to Germany were emerging. The couple, who marry on 8 April, are expected to travel around Germany for a week this autumn. It will be the first time that Mrs Parker Bowles will be on a visit as a member of the royal family - as HRH Duchess of Cornwall.

One palace insider said: "The prince and Mrs Parker Bowles are keen to keep the tour as a low key as possible even though they know that will difficult. It is believed that Germany offers the best way to keep the trip organised and relaxed."

It had been wrongly reported that Charles and Camilla were to tour America at the invitation of President Bush in the autumn. Royal sources said there had never been any plans for such a visit.

In Fiji, Charles looked at the coral reef as part of a bid to publicise conservation. He went ashore at Castaway Island where islanders sang the welcome song "Isa Nuky Vurlavurla" which means white sandy beach. It is opposite the island where Tom Hanks filmed Castaway.