Prince Charles and Camilla visited places of worship belonging to the Christian, Muslim, Chinese and Hindu communities in George Town, the capital city of the Malaysian state of Penang.
The royal couple's unannounced visit to the Sri Mahamariamman Hindu temple was captured by backpackers and shop keepers on their phones.
They were honoured with luxurious silk shawls and garlands of sandalwood.
Preveena Balakrishnan, a local historian and Hindu, explained why the gifts were chosen.
Balakrishnan said: "We wanted to have a fragrant garland so we chose sandalwood - flower garlands will fade and die.
"The silk shawls are given to Kings and Queens and we believe silk has the power to attract positive vibes."
Prince Charles and Camilla kept in line with tradition and removed their shoes before entering the temple.
Their one-day visit to Penang, which was originally named "Prince of Wales Island", began with a trip to St George's Church, which, having been built in 1818, makes it the oldest Anglican church in Southeast Asia.
They were presented with an oil painting before they proceeded to visit the Kapitan Keling Mosque, where they participated in a tree planting event.
The couple also travelled on foot to the Han Jiang Ancestral Temple, where they were entertained by a traditional Chinese lion dance troupe.
