Next week on Monday 14th the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will kick off their first official five-day visit to Pakistan and just days out from the tour, Kensington Palace has have released more details about what the royal tour will entail.
The Palace says the couple’s visit to Pakistan will be “the most complex tour undertaken by The Duke and Duchess to date,” due to the sensitivity and logistical and security considerations.
The visit, which is at the request of The Foreign and Commonwealth Office, will pay respect to the historical relationship between Britain and Pakistan, a statement released by the Palace explains, however it will mostly focus on the country as it stands today, “a dynamic, aspirational and forward-looking nation.”
William and Kate in Stockholm, Sweden during their last joint tour together in February 2018. (Image: Getty)
Beginning in the capital of Islamabad, the royal couple – who will be travelling without their three children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis – will then travel to the city of Lahore, before heading to the mountainous northern countryside and the regions in the West. The tour wraps up on October 18th.
“The Duke and Duchess have asked that this tour allow them the opportunities to meet as many Pakistanis as possible,” the statement adds.
“Over the course of the visit, Their Royal Highnesses will meet a wide variety of people, including children and young people, leaders from the government, business and the charity sector, inspiring conservationists, and well-known cultural figures and sporting stars.”
Education will be a strong focus for Prince William and Kate during their visit to Pakistan, with visits to organisations helping young people get the best possible start in life planned.
“Access to quality education, particularly to girls and young women is one of the UK’s top priorities in Pakistan,” the statement says.
“The Duke and Duchess are looking forward to spending time meeting young Pakistanis, and hearing more about their aspirations for the future.”
Prince Charles and Duchess Camilla during their visit to Lahore, Pakistan in 2006, this tour will be William and Kate’s first to the country. (Image: Getty)
There will also be a focus on climate change, with the couple keen to learn about how the communities in Pakistan are responding and adapting to the effects of climate change and how it is affecting the nation and its people.
The UK’s links with Pakistan are extensive, with the country hosting one of Britain’s largest overseas networks – the British High Commission in Islamabad is one of the UK’s largest missions in the world.
Last week ahead of their royal tour, William and Kate attended a reception at The Aga Khan Centre in London, hosted by His Highness The Aga Khan, to celebrate Pakistani culture.
During their engagement the couple shared they were “looking forward” to building a lasting relationship with the people of the nation, BAZAAR.com reports.
Prince William also joked he’d “need a bigger suit”, saying he can’t wait to try the food, though admits: “Me and heat – not so good,” when told by a fellow guest to expect a lot of spice.
The tour comes just weeks after The Duke and Duchess of Sussex undertook a successful 10-day tour of southern Africa, their first as a family, with five-month-old Archie the youngest royal to ever embark on a royal tour.
