Three children in the same "boat" found themselves sharing the frame with President Tony Tan Keng Yam and his wife, Mary, in a photo booth at the Istana yesterday.

Nuh Adam, five, Joan Ho, four and Zeenathunnisa, eight, were among the more than 15,000 who turned up at the Istana open house yesterday.

The Istana grounds were open to the public in celebration of the upcoming National Day. At the photo booth, the children were also joined by (from left) Singapore Philatelic Museum general manager Tresnawati Prihadi; Mr Baey Yam Keng, Parliamentary Secretary for Culture, Community and Youth; and National Gallery Singapore chief executive Chong Siak Ching.

The highlight of the open house was the Istana Art Event, which celebrated arts and national heritage through activities such as an art competition.