Prince William and Kate Middleton have revealed their upcoming tour of Pakistan will be their most complex tour to date.
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The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will leave children Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis behind as they travel to Pakistan, at the request of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, at the end of October.
Kensington Palace released a statement on Friday: “Their Royal Highnesses The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will undertake an official visit to Pakistan between Monday 14th and Friday 18th October, at the request of The Foreign and Commonwealth Office. This will be Their Royal Highnesses’ first official visit to Pakistan.
“Whilst The Duke and Duchess’s programme will pay respect to the historical relationship between Britain and Pakistan, it will largely focus on showcasing Pakistan as it is today – a dynamic, aspirational and forward-looking nation. From the modern leafy capital Islamabad, to the vibrant city of Lahore, the mountainous countryside in the North, and the rugged border regions to the West, the visit will span over 1000km, and will take in Pakistan’s rich culture, its diverse communities, and its beautiful landscapes.”
This is the first time the royal couple will be visiting Pakistan and will be following in the footsteps of more senior members of the royal family, such as the Queen and the Prince of Wales.
Earlier this week William and Kate met with Aga Khan ahead of their tour.
The royal duo met with the Muslim spiritual leader at the Aga Khan Centre in King’s Cross, London for a special event to showcase modern Pakistani culture.
The centre is home to the Aga Khan Foundation, the Aga Khan University’s Institute for the Study of Muslim Civilisations, and the Institute of Ismaili Studies – which collectively seek to promote understanding about Muslim cultures and global development issues.
The Aga Khan – who is the 49th hereditary imam of the world’s 20 million Shia Ismaili Muslims – organised the event in co-operation with the High Commission of Pakistan.
William and Kate met with community leaders and business figures as well as musicians, chefs and artists from the Pakistani diaspora.
The Duke and Duchess were pictured speaking with a range of guests at the special event, including musician Naughty Boy.
In a sweet moment, Kate was seen shaking hands with a young girl who presented her with a bouquet of flowers.
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