Connecting O.C. to the U.K.

California on its own as an independent nation would have the seventh largest economy in the world.

All the more reason, Prince Andrew, duke of York said, to strengthen economic ties between the two markets, especially those between the U.K. and Orange County.

“The GDP of Orange County is greater than that of either Portugal or Finland,” he said. “[The U.K. and Orange County are] natural partners.”

Prince Andrew addressed a luncheon of about 730 local executives, hosted by the British American Business Council of Orange County at the Orange County Hilton.

The prince was acting in his capacity as the U.K.’s special representative for International Trade and Investment, and spoke for about half an hour on U.S.-U.K. relations.

“You’ve got to understand that the O.C. doesn’t really exist on the map in the world — there’s L.A., San Diego, San Francisco, New York, Miami, but we don’t exist,” said Valerie Blackholly, organizer and executive director of the council. “We’ve pushed for a long time to get top executives down in Orange County, and it was a huge coup to have a prince today.”

The duke repeatedly stressed the mutual benefits he saw derived from a strong U.K./O.C. relationship, praising the “knowledge-driven, diverse and open markets” of Orange County.

“Yes of course, there are some differences we can talk about,” the prince said, joking about American iced tea and football. “But, I’d suggest we have far more in common than otherwise.”

The prince also spent considerable attention applauding California’s efforts to curb climate change, a cause he said required international attention.

“[Climate change] is a global problem that requires global solutions,” he said. “It’s a field where I also believe the U.K. and U.S. should bear our combined intellectual capacity in research and development, finance and other areas to reduce its effects. ... Gov. Schwarzenegger’s work on this should be admired.”

Dickson and Lois Shafer of Corona del Mar, who attended the event with the World Affairs Council of Orange County, said they were impressed by the prince’s remarks.

“The prince was very eloquent and pleasant to hear,” Lois Shafer said. “We were honored [to hear him].”

Proceeds from the event went to a scholarship fund to send two Orange County students to study abroad in the U.K. for two weeks this summer, Blackholly said.

CHRIS CAESAR may be reached at (714) 966-4626 or at chris.caesar@latimes.com.