Prince William was heard teasing his wife Kate Middleton while on a visit to Islamabad Model College for Girls in Pakistan yesterday.
WATCH: Kate and William visit school in Pakistan
On the first full day of their royal tour of Pakistan, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge visited several Pakistani schools to hear how students are benefiting from the ‘Teach for Pakistan’ programme – which, according to a statement from the Kensington Palace, is a “fast-track training programme” focusing on “improving the quality of teaching in schools which serve families from disadvantaged backgrounds.”
At one point in the day, the royal couple observed the number of students who were interested in maths and science at Islamabad Model College for Girls.
According to The Scottish Sun, when Kate – who wore a periwinkle-blue silk kurta and trousers by local designer Maheen Khan – entered the science classroom, she asked “This is the science class, yes? Some of the girls were saying that science is their favourite subject at school.”
Prince William replied, “I know that was a long time ago, but Catherine you remember it well, don’t you?”
The Duchess didn’t answer and swiftly changed the subject.
Later in the day, William and Kate – who share children Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis – also visited the Margalla Hills, which sit in the foothills of the Himalayas.
According to the statement from Kensington Palace, the couple joined students from four local schools to take part in activities designed to educate young people on environmental protection and wildlife conservation.
William and Kate began their royal tour of Pakistan yesterday, with Express reporting that it was “the most complex tour” they have ever undertaken.
BBC Royal correspondent Jonny Dymond noted that the royal visit is about giving Pakistan a “royal hug” and showing people here that Britain cares.
“It’s also a way of highlighting joint interests – climate change threatens Pakistan more than most, early years education is one of the duchess’s biggest single concerns, and security is a key part of the co-operation between the UK and Pakistan,” he wrote.
On Tuesday evening, William and Kate attended a reception held by the British High Commissioner of Pakistan, Thomas Drew.
A spokesman for the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge told People that the royal couple saw the reception as an opportunity “to meet as many Pakistanis as possible . . . including children and young people, leaders from government, business and the charity sector, inspiring conservationists, and well-known cultural figures and sporting stars.”
The royal couple arrived at the Pakistan Monument in a rickshaw, which was painted with the Union Jack, alongside the Pakistani national flag.
In a speech at the event, the Duke discussed issues such as education for girls and climate change and urged Britain and Pakistan to continue to work together.
“Whether in Pakistan or the U.K. or elsewhere on our planet – we face shared global challenges. The effects of climate change threaten the present and the future – and therefore demand a concerted effort by everyone,” he said.
WATCH: William and Kate look full glam as they come out of a Rickshaw
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have also paid tribute to William’s late mother Princess Diana throughout the royal tour.
When the royal couple landed at Pakistani Air Force Base Nur Khan, observers noticed that the Duchess of Cambridge honoured Diana through her outfit.
Kate’s turquoise blue Catherine Walker ensemble – which consisted of a flared kurti, a long shirt, and trousers – was reminiscent of an outfit Diana wore when she visited Pakistan in 1996.
Sky News reported that during the William and Kate’s visit to a government-run school in Islamabad, a student by the name of Aima told the Duke that the students were “big fans of your mother.”
“Oh that’s very sweet of you,” William was said to have replied.
“I was a big fan of my mother too. She came here three times. This is my first time and it is very nice to be here and meet you all.”
According to Express, Pakistan was a special place for Princess Diana as it was home to the man believed to be the love of her life – who was a distant cousin of Prime Minister Imran Khan.
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