In Diana’s footsteps: Prince William and Kate Middleton don traditional Pakistani outfit as they retrace his mother’s 1991 visit to the Himalayan foothills on the second full day of their historic tour
- Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have travelled to northern Pakistan to Hindu Kush mountain range in Chitral
- Wearing traditional clothes they hope to highlight effects of climate change by witnessing a glacier melting
- Princess Diana visited the same area and wore same outfit as Kate in 1991 on her visit to the region
- Royal couple were presented with commemorative book of Diana’s visit as they arrived in mountain foothills
The Duchess of Cambridge was the image of Princess Diana today when she and Prince William arrived in northern Pakistan to visit the Himalayan foothills on the second full day of their tour.
William and Kate donned traditional Pakistani outfits as they stepped out among the Hindu Kush mountains in the Chitral district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.
The couple are following in Diana’s footsteps by visiting the same region she did on her 1991 trip. They were presented with a book commemorating her time in the area 28 years ago.
The Cambridges hope to highlight the effects of climate change by witnessing one of the glaciers melting for themselves.
The Duchess of Cambridge (cente left) was the image of Princess Diana today (pictured in 1991 right) when she and Prince William arrived in northern Pakistan to visit the Himalayan foothills on the second day of their tour
The Duke used a speech at the historic Pakistan Monument yesterday to draw attention to ‘spectacular’ glaciers melting in the area.
He told a reception in Islamabad last night: ‘Tomorrow we will be seeing some of these impacts first hand and meeting some of the communities adjusting to the new realities and new challenges that climate change has brought to their towns and villages.
Princess Diana is pictured on a visit to the Chitral Scouts in Pakistan in 1991
‘I hope to learn what more we all can do to help prevent and mitigate this impending global catastrophe.’
Anticipated to walk around the glacier’s northern tip, the excursion will be the first time the royal couple have seen a melting glacier in person.
The couple hope to highlight the effect of global warming during the visit, which will also see them travel to a village in a valley of Chitral.
Isolated communities in the area have suffered from flash flooding in recent years as a result of the glaciers melting.
While in the Chitral valley, the couple are also due to explore a site damaged in severe floods in 2015, to meet the local community and hear how they are adapting their way of life in response to climate events.
William and Kate are expected to witness a drill conducted by volunteers from the local emergency response team – who are supported by UK aid – which was instrumental in preventing loss of life in 2015.
Before they depart the district, they will visit a settlement of the Kalash people to learn about their community, heritage and traditions.
The royal couple had a busy first day of engagements yesterday, which included visiting a government-run school in the capital Islamabad and meeting Prime Minister Imran Khan.
They ended the day at the reception, hosted by the British High Commissioner for Pakistan Thomas Drews, after arriving in an auto rickshaw.
The couple are following in Diana’s footsteps by visiting the same region she did on her 1991 trip. They were presented with a book commemorating her time in the region
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge step out of a rickshaw in Islamabad, Pakistan, as they attend an evening reception yesterday
William wore a sherwani by Karachi-based designer Naushemian, while Kate is in a glittering emerald dress by Jenny Packham
The reception in Islamabad last night is set to highlight the relationship between the UK and the Commonwealth country
William speaks at the event – which showcased Pakistani music and culture. The couple met individuals from business, the creative arts, music and the film industry and members of government
Kate watches on as William speaks to the gathered crowd at the Pakistan National Monument, during day two of their royal tour of the country
‘We share unique bonds and so it will always be in our best interests for Pakistan to succeed,’ the duke (pictured, with Kate in the background) said to the crowd. ‘You can always rely on the UK to keep playing an important role as a key partner and friend’
The Duke of Cambridge said to the crowd gathered at the Pakistan National Monument: ‘The view from this hill would have been quite different when my grandmother, The Queen, first visited over half a century ago. Looking out, one would have seen the beginnings of a city under construction, yet to become the great capital that it is today’
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge smile for the camera as they attend a special reception hosted by the British High Commissioner Thomas Drew, at the Pakistan National Monument in Islamabad, Pakistan yesterday
The Duchess of Cambridge speaks to a guest as she attends a special reception with Prince William in Pakistan yesterday. They opted for an auto rickshaw as they wrapped up their second day of the royal tour.
Kate (left speaking to a guest at the Pakistan National Monument) wore a glittering emerald dress by Jenny Packham, while William (right with Kate posing as they attend a special reception hosted by the British High Commissioner Thomas Drew) wore a similar-coloured traditional sherwani buttoned coat by Karachi-based designer Naushemian
The Duchess of Cambridge and Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, attend a special reception hosted by the British High Commissioner Thomas Drew (right) and his wife Joanna Drew, at the Pakistan National Monument during day two of their royal tour of Pakistan
The British High Commissioner Thomas Drew speaks to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge on the second day of their royal tour of Pakistan. He hosted the couple alongside his wife Joanna Drew (left)
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge speak with guests as they attend a reception in Islamabad, Pakistan last night
The Duke and Duchess beam as they arrive at the reception hosted by the British High Commissioner to Pakistan last night
Kate and William met figures from business, the creative arts, music and film industry, and members of Government
The Duchess smiles as she arrives with Prince William for the event hosted by the British High Commissioner last night
The Duchess arrives by Tuk Tuk as she attends a reception hosted by the British High Commissioner Thomas Drew
Tuk Tuks: Three-wheeled taxis seen in Africa and Asia… and also Bond
While tuk tuks are most commonly seen in crowded cities of Asia and Africa, they originate in their current form from Italy shortly after the Second World War.
The vehicles were designed by the same engineer behind the Vespa motor scooter, and soon became popular on cramped roads thanks to their compact size.
The vehicle famously featured in 1983 film Octopussy, which saw it involved in a classic James Bond chase scene through the streets of Udaipur in India.
The tuk tuk chase scene in the 1983 Bond film Octopussy
The vehicle was built upon the frame of a 1982 Honda 250R ATC three-wheeler, and featured in the film when 007, played by Roger Moore, had just beaten the exiled Afghan prince in a game of backgammon.
In May this year, a freight firm boss from Essex set a new tuk tuk land speed record, having purchased the three-wheeled vehicle during a ‘boozy night on eBay’.
Matt Everard, 46, of Billericay, set a speed of 74.306mph in the 1971 Bangkok taxi in North Yorkshire, having been set a target of 68.35mph by Guinness World Records.
The Duke also raised the issue of climate change in his speech at the reception, saying that the country’s glaciers were under threat and as a result its water supply.
‘For a country so young, Pakistan has endured many hardships, with countless lives lost to terror and hatred. Tonight I want to pay tribute to all those who have endured such sacrifice and helped to build the country that we see today,’ he said.
‘Whether in Pakistan or the UK 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.
‘In Pakistan, your spectacular glaciers – and those of the wider Hindu Kush-Himalaya region – serve as a critical water store for a quarter of a billion people; and over 1.6 billion people rely on the great rivers that flow from the mountains in this part of the world.
‘Yet, because the effects of global warming at altitude, a one and a half degree Celsius temperature increase overall could mean warming of over two degrees Celsius for northern Pakistan’s highest mountains.
‘This could lead to a loss of over a third of these vital glaciers in less than a century, with enormous impacts not only on the availability of water, but on agriculture and hydropower generation.’
The second in line to the throne’s sherwani buttoned coat was by Karachi-based designer Naushemian, while Kate wowed in a Jenny Packham dress in the national colours of dark green and Onitaa earrings, sourced from Pakistan. William also sported a pair of cashmere slippers made by Arthur Sleep at its factory in London.
Kate’s £290 earrings were gold plated with uncut crystal stones and were made especially for the duchess.
Their tuk tuk arrival did cause some issues however, with drivers in Islamabad taking to Twitter to report a blockage of key roads tonight to allow the royals free passage across the city, with videos showing huge jams that left families stuck in their cars during rush hour.
The couple met with well-known individuals from business, the creative arts, music and film industry, and members of Government at the monument on the western Shakarparian Hills.
The event showcased Pakistani music and culture, and a speech by the Duke showed the UK’s support for the Commonwealth country, which he called a ‘key partner and friend’.
The Duchess of Cambridge speaks to guests as she attends the special reception at the Pakistan National Monument yesterday
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge arrived at a reception at Pakistan’s historic national monument last night
The reception in Islamabad last night highlighted the relationship between the UK and the Commonwealth country
The Duchess of Cambridge looks back at the driver after arriving by rickshaw with her husband Prince William last night
Kate and Prince William arrive by motorised rickshaw as they attend the special reception in Islamabad last night
The couple had the opportunity to meet with well-known individuals from business and the creative arts last night
The Duke spoke at the event where the couple had the opportunity to meet with well-known individuals
The couple drove up to the reception last night in a motorised rickshaw which had been decorated to mark the royal visit
The Duchess of Cambridge dazzles in a bottle green evening gown as she and Prince William arrive in Islamabad last night
The couple arrive in the rickshaw before William made a keynote speech at the event in Islamabad last night
Kate wears a dress in the national colours of dark green by Jenny Packham, while William sports a sherwani buttoned coat
William described Britain’s support for Pakistan’s frontline role in the fight against terrorism
Kate and William arrive for the reception hosted by the British High Commissioner Thomas Drew in Islamabad last night
The reception in Islamabad last night came on the second day of the royal tour carried out by the Cambridges to Pakistan
The Duke of Cambridge steps out of the rickshaw as he and his wife Kate attend a reception in Islamabad last night
The royal couple are on an official five-day visit to Pakistan, which is the first royal visit to the country in 13 years
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge arrive for the reception hosted by the British High Commissioner Thomas Drew yesterday
The Duke and Duchess at the reception hosted by the British High Commissioner to Pakistan Thomas Drew last night
Drivers in Islamabad took to Twitter to report a blockage of key roads tonight to allow the royals free passage across the city, with videos showing huge jams that left families stuck in their cars during rush hour
Prince William’s keynote speech in full: Duke of Cambridge tells reception that Pakistan can rely on Britain as ‘a key partner and your friend’
Assalam O Alaikum. Thank you Tom for that kind introduction.
Ladies and gentlemen, it is our great pleasure to join you here this evening on our first official visit to Pakistan.
Already, Catherine and I have been honoured by the hospitality you have shown us, and we have certainly managed to make our way through a record breaking amount of food so generously offered by our hosts.
I would like to begin by saying bahut shukriya to you all for making us so welcome in your country.
Stood here with this magnificent monument behind me, I am struck by the great strides Pakistan has made since its birth seventy-two years ago.
The view from this hill would have been quite different when my grandmother, The Queen, first visited over half a century ago.
Looking out, one would have seen the beginnings of a city under construction, yet to become the great capital that it is today.
In his address to the reception, arranged to showcase the best of Pakistani culture, the duke recognised the troubled past of Pakistan. ‘Delivering a future where Pakistan’s great potential can be realised will not be easy or without sacrifice,’ he said.
And with successive visits by my mother and my father, this view has continued to change, with the city constantly growing and with it my family’s affection for Pakistan.
This is the world’s sixth largest country by population. It has an unbelievably diverse geography that spans deserts to glaciers and everything in between. It is the birth place of the youngest ever Nobel peace prize winner. And I am told that it hosts not just the second highest mountain in the world, but also its highest cash machine!
It is also home to one of the youngest populations in the world, with an average age of just 24 – almost half that of the UK.
In a public school not far from where we gather this evening, Catherine and I saw young children learning and playing, aided by an inspiring teacher, trained through the Teach for Pakistan programme.
We spoke with ambitious young women finishing their schooling and planning for university and work. As Muhammed Ali Jinnah said, ‘No struggle can ever succeed without women participating side by side with men’.
It was good to hear from President Alvi and Prime Minster Khan, earlier today that education will continue to be an important priority for Pakistan.
We also saw the brilliant work taking place in the Margalla Hills, where young children were being taught the importance of protecting and caring for the world around them.
The education of Pakistan’s next generation will be the key that turns the country’s growing population into an engine of growth and helps unlock this country’s enormous potential. A rapidly growing population presents you with an enormous opportunity, but also significant challenge.
During his keynote speech, Prince William highlighted the relationship between the UK and Pakistan – and also referred to when his grandmother the Queen (picture during a visit to Karachi in 1961) visited more than fifty years ago
The UK and Pakistan share unique bonds and so it will always be in our best interests for you to succeed. Not least because of the 1.5 million people living in the UK with Pakistani origin and the fact that the UK is one of the biggest investors in your economy.
You can rely on us to keep playing an important role as a key partner and your friend.
Delivering a future where Pakistan’s great potential can be realised will not be easy or without sacrifice.
For a country so young, Pakistan has endured many hardships, with countless lives lost to terror and hatred. Tonight I want to pay tribute to all those who have endured such sacrifice and helped to build the country that we see today.
Whether in Pakistan or the UK 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.
In Pakistan, your spectacular glaciers – and those of the wider Hindu Kush-Himalaya region – serve as a critical water store for a quarter of a billion people; and over 1.6 billion people rely on the great rivers that flow from the mountains in this part of the world.
Yet, because the effects of global warming at altitude, a one and a half degree Celsius temperature increase overall could mean warming of over two degrees Celsius for northern Pakistan’s highest mountains.
This could lead to a loss of over a third of these vital glaciers in less than a century, with enormous impacts not only on the availability of water, but on agriculture and hydropower generation.
Tomorrow we will be seeing some of these impacts first hand and meeting some of the communities adjusting to the new realities and new challenges that climate change has brought to their towns and villages. I hope to learn what more we all can do to help prevent and mitigate this impending global catastrophe.
Ladies and gentlemen, given the scale and complexities of the challenges that future generations will face, it is clear that we all need to work together. And whether it’s this generation or the next, I know that the UK and Pakistan will continue to exemplify the very best in international cooperation.
Yes, the challenges ahead are great. But we cannot be daunted, nor distracted. Instead we should draw strength from our shared bonds and heed the words of Muhammed Ali Jinnah as we do so, ‘My message to you all’ he said ‘is of hope, courage, and confidence’.
Earlier, the Duke shared a touching exchange with schoolgirls in Pakistan about their love for his late mother Princess Diana today as he also met the country’s Prime Minister on a royal tour with wife Kate.
The couple visited the Islamabad Model College for Girls in the capital, touring classrooms and posing for a group picture with some of the young students, ranging from kindergarten age students to sixth formers.
William was told the girls were ‘big fans of your mother’. He gave a broad smile and said: ‘You were, really? Oh that’s very sweet of you. I was a big fan of my mother too. She came here three times. I was very small.’
The couple later had lunch with Prime Minister Imran Khan, with William changing into a smart suit, and Kate wearing trousers by Maheen Khan, a tunic by Catherine Walker, a scarf by Satrangi and earrings by Zeen.
The five-day visit to Pakistan, following in Diana’s footsteps in 1997, is designed to champion the importance of quality education, and highlight how girls benefit from pursuing higher education and professional careers.
The visit is the first time a Royal Family member has set foot in Pakistan for 13 years due to violence and terrorism that has blighted the country, including the assassination of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto in 2007.
Former international cricketer Mr Khan was a friend of Diana, Princess of Wales – who visited a cancer hospital in Lahore as a guest of him and his then wife, Jemima Goldsmith, in May 1997, just three months before her death.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge visit the Prime Minister of Pakistan, Imran Khan, in central Islamabad today
The Duchess of Cambridge laughs while playing a game with pupils at the Islamabad Model College for Girls today
William and Kate meet the President of Pakistan Arif Alvi and his wife Samina at the Presidential Palace in Islamabad today
The couple are visiting the Islamabad Model College for Girls in the capital, touring classrooms and posing for a group picture with some of the young students, ranging from kindergarten age students to sixth formers
Kate looked relaxed as she stepped out of the royal car wearing a stunning blue traditional kurta and a pair of nude heels
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge pose for a group photo as they visit a school today in Islamabad, Pakistan
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge visit the Prime Minister of Pakistan Imran Khan in central Islamabad today
Princess Diana poses with Education Minister for Punjab Province Iqbal Chaudhary (second left), Jemima Khan, holding her son Sulaiman Isa, son of Jemima and Imran Khan, and her former husband, Imran (right), at Lahore Airport in Pakistan in 1997
Kate dazzled crowds as she stepped out in a traditional blue kurta and scarf by Maheen Khan, an international Pakistani designer and costume designer.
The kurta is a long loose-fitting collarless shirt, with the style originating in India. The clothing has its roots in Central Asian nomadic tunics.
Ms Khan opened her first shop in Lahore, ‘The Seamstress’, in 1972 and has since taken part in 20 international shows.
She is the chief executive of Fashion Pakistan Week and has had her collections featured at Milan Fashion Week as well.
Designer Maheen Khan, at Fashion Pakistan Week in 2009
Ms Khan was recently dubbed the ‘Coco Chanel of the East’ and is renowned for her flattering cuts and mastery of the use of chiffon.
She was commissioned by Harrods to make a replica of the Queen’s coronation dress for the 60th anniversary celebrations, but ultimately it wasn’t used so she presented it to the British High Commission in Karachi instead.
The Duke reminded Mr Khan how the then cricketer told him he wanted to be Pakistan’s Prime Minister years ago.
William recalled how everyone laughed at a gathering in Richmond-upon-Thames in 1996 when the former Sussex and Worcestershire cricketer announced his political ambition to the then teenage Prince William and Diana.
Diana had taken him to see Mr Khan and his then wife, Jemima Goldsmith, at the Goldsmith family home in Richmond.
Mr Khan, who was finally elected Pakistani Prime Minister in July 2018, suggested it had been as hard a slog as his earlier career as a Test cricketer.
‘When I went with my mother to see a Test match my cousin was playing and he scored a century and I told my mother I wanted to be a Test cricketer,’ he said.
‘ I never realised how difficult it was to eventually become one. Similarly, when I told you that I wanted to succeed I didn’t realise it would take me 22 years.’
William, 37, replied: ‘Sure. It’s not so easy.’
His wife Kate, who was wearing white trousers by the Pakistani designer Maheen Khan, an emerald green tunic by Catherine Walker and a navy patterned scarf by Satrangi, another local designer, and earrings by the Pakistani firm Zeen, interjected: ‘You stuck with it.’
The Prime Minister was recalling his friendship with Diana when journalists were allowed into his chamber for a few seconds to see the royal couple meeting him today at his official residence in Islamabad.
They spoke about one of the places that the royal couple will visit tomorrow – the destination is currently under wraps – and Mr Khan said he thought Diana might have been there before.
Mr Khan, who was married to Jemima Goldsmith between 1995 and 2004, uses the residence – known simply as The Prime Minister’s House, for official entertaining but actually lives in his private house on the outskirts of the capital.
The Oxford-educated politician studied politics, philosophy, and economics at Keble College in the city of dreaming spurs between 1972 and 1975 before becoming a professional cricketer.
Prince William smiles as he speaks to with the Prime Minister of Pakistan in central Islamabad today
William and Kate meet with Prime Minister Imran Khan before having lunch with him in Islamabad today
Pakistan’s Prime Minister Imran Khan welcomes Prince William and Kate to his residence in Islamabad today
William and Kate meet with Prime Minister Imran Khan before having lunch with him in Islamabad today
Prime Minister of Pakistan Imran Khan waited to greet Prince William and Kate in Islamabad today
They spoke about one of the places that the royal couple will visit tomorrow, but the destination is currently under wraps
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge greet Prime Minister of Pakistan Imran Khan after arriving for a meeting today
The Duke of Cambridge reminded Mr Khan how the then cricketer told him he wanted to be Pakistan’s Prime Minister
Mr Khan uses the residence for official entertaining but actually lives in his private house on the outskirts of the capital
Kate wears white trousers by the Pakistani designer Maheen Khan and an emerald green tunic by Catherine Walker today
The visit came more than a year after Mr Khan was finally elected Pakistani Prime Minister in July 2018
Kate leaves after meeting Pakistan’s Prime Minister Imran Khan at his official residence in Islamabad today
Mr Khan suggested that becoming prime minister had been as hard a slog as his earlier career as a Test cricketer
From cricket legend to Pakistan’s PM: How Imran Khan became leader of his home nation
Pakistan’s Prime Minister Imran Khan in Islamabad today
Former Pakistan international cricket captain Imran Khan was elected as prime minister of the country in July 2018
Mr Khan had been pursuing power in his homeland since leaving London in 1996 to enter politics, putting such a strain on his marriage to the British heiress Jemima Goldsmith that they divorced in 2004 after nine years together.
The Oxford-educated former London playboy pledged to build a ‘new Pakistan’ when he addressed the nation on TV following his victory.
He also vowed to tackle corruption that was ‘eating our country like a cancer’, pledged good ties with neighbour India and said he would seek ‘a more equal relationship’ with the US.
His election victory followed a tumultuous campaign – capped by a suicide bomber killing 31 at a ballot booth on polling day – which was also marred by reports of meddling and intimidation by the military.
Known mainly in the West as a talented sportsman and infamous playboy, he presented a significantly more conservative and devout face to Muslim-majority Pakistan.
His Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, founded in 1996, governed northwestern Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province for five years but had to settle for a handful of seats nationally after the 2013 election.
However, he took advantage of the fall of Nawaz Sharif and a poor campaign by the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) to become prime minister last year.
He comes from a family of distinguished sportsmen: eight of his cousins have played first class cricket and two of them, Javed Burki and Majid Khan were also leading lights of the national Test team.
William and Kate and their entourage stayed at the residence for lunch.
The couple also met with President Arif Alvi who recalled how as a boy he ran along a street in Karachi to catch a glimpse of the Queen during her 1961 state visit to his country. ‘It was miraculous to see her’ he said.
William and Kate joined President Arif Alvi, first lady Samina Alvi, the foreign minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi and his wife Mehreen, at the Presidential Palace in Islamabad.
William spoke of the Prince of Wales’s visit to Pakistan in 2006, while the duchess sat and chatted with the first lady, who asked her about their first engagement of the day at the Islamabad Modern College for Girls. ‘It’s really great, a very positive environment for children,’ Kate said.
During their meeting, the President and first lady also exchanged gifts with William and Kate.
Earlier, at the school, Kate dazzled crowds as she stepped out in a traditional blue kurta and scarf by local designer Maheen Khan, while William opted for a casual shirt and trousers to stay cool in the Pakistan heat.
The Cambridges pulled up tiny chairs so they could sit and chat to pupils in their classroom at the school, which also teaches young boys – and they also used the occasion to talk about the importance of mental health.
Sitting in the classroom with a group of teenagers, Prince William – who will, of course, be king one day – was asked what he had wanted to do when he was younger after Aima, 14, told him that she wanted to be a brain surgeon.
He said: ‘Actually I changed a lot as I got older but I always wanted to learn to fly. I was flying for a while actually.
‘I love flying, I feel very free, I like learning a skill, I enjoy that. I can relate the science of what you do.’
William recalled at the meeting today how everyone laughed in 1996 when Mr Khan announced his political ambitions
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge smile during their visit today to the Prime Minister of Pakistan, Imran Khan
Prince William and Kate leave after meeting Pakistan’s Prime Minister Imran Khan at his official residence today
Mr Khan, pictured today, had been pursuing power in his homeland since leaving London in 1996 to enter politics
Mr Khan is known mainly in the West as a talented sportsman for Pakistan and an infamous Oxford-educated playboy
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge leave after meeting Pakistan’s Prime Minister Imran Khan at his official residence today
Prince William, Duke of Cambridge meets the President of Pakistan, Dr Arif Alvi, at the Presidential Palace in Islamabad today
The Duchess of Cambridge stands next to Samina Alvi, wife of the President of Pakistan, at the Presidential Palace today
The Duchess of Cambridge smiles as she meets with the President of Pakistan at the Presidential Palace in Islamabad today
President Arif Alvi who recalled how as a boy he ran along a street in Karachi to catch a glimpse of the Queen during her 1961 state visit to his country (pictured). ‘It was miraculous to see her’ he said
The Queen’s two trips to Pakistan: Monarch toured streets in open-top car in 1961… but her 1997 visit proved controversial
Queen Elizabeth II in 1961 at a costume parade in Karachi
The Queen has made two visits to Pakistan – with her first in 1961 a triumphal trip which saw huge crowds gather as she was driven through the streets of Lahore and Karachi.
She shook hands with members of Pakistan’s cricket team after a match against England, attended a gala wearing a fabulous ball gown and met the then-president Muhammad Ayub Khan.
Her last visit to Pakistan in 1997 was rather more controversial, when she called on Pakistan and India to settle their differences during an address to the country’s parliament.
But she also swapped white-heeled shoes for navy blue socks when she visited the Faisal Mosque in Islamabad to show her respect.
That visit came less than two months after Diana’s death and the Queen paid tribute to the Princess of Wales’s charity work in Pakistan in a speech.
Inside the school the couple first sat with a group of kindergarten children, aged around four, as they learnt about numbers and counting under a sign which read: Work Hard, Be Smart.
‘Well done, very good,’ said the prince, who introduced himself by shaking each of their hands, as they chatted.
They also met a class of youngsters aged 10 to 12 who were told by their teacher: ‘We have some guests in our class, can we welcome them?’
‘Hello, welcome, nice to meet you,’ the children chorused.
In the science room, William and Kate chatted at length with a group of 14-year-olds wearing headscarves. ‘This is the science class, yes? Some of the girls were saying that science is their favourite subject at school,’ asked the duchess.
William added: ‘Do you remember the periodic table? I know that a long time ago, but Catherine you remember it well, don’t you?’
‘Do you get to do a lot of experiments?’ Kate asked, ‘your English is all so good.’
Her husband added: ‘We are trying to learn Urdu as we go on, we only know a few words now, but we hope to get better. ‘
Asked by the chattering group of girls what they thought of Pakistan so far, Kate beamed and replied: ‘It’s fantastic, this is only day one for us. We are going to the north so we will be interested to explore see the difference.’
‘Are you enjoying it?’ they asked the prince.
The Duke of Cambridge spoke about the importance of young people learning about mental health in Islamabad today
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge visit Islamabad Model College for Girls today during their tour of Pakistan
Kate looked happy and relaxed as she chatted to children in the classroom. Her own children are at school in London
The Cambridges were delighted to meet children as they lined up to greet them in the playground in Islamabad
Kate watches the children playing in the playground at the Islamabad Model College for Girls in the Pakistani capital
The Duchess of Cambridge looked delighted as she arrived at the Model College for Girls and was greeted by pupils and staff
The Duchess of Cambridge interacts with a student at a school on a visit to Islamabad in Pakistan today
The Duchess of Cambridge speaks to pupils at the Islamabad Model College for Girls during her visit today
Prince William and his wife Kate speak to a woman while they visit a school today in Islamabad, Pakistan
The Duchess of Cambridge visits a school in Islamabad, Pakistan, as she interacts with the pupils there
The Duke of Cambridge spoke about the importance of young people learning about mental health in Pakistan today
William and Kate visit a government-run school in Islamabad today during their five-day royal tour of Pakistan
The visit today marks the start of the royal couple’s first full day of engagements after arriving in Pakistan yesterday
William has frequently spoken out on mental health, and did so again today during his visit to Islamabad
Kate opted for a royal blue kurta, a traditional long shift blouse over trousers, for the visit to Islamabad today
The royals also met a group of teenagers today, and William was asked what he had wanted to do when he was younger
Both of the royals sat with children in a kindergarten class during the visit to the school in Islamabad today
The school visited by Prince William today is for the most disadvantaged young people in the area
The Duchess of Cambridge claps as she visits a school to speak with young children in Islamabad today
William and Kate heard today how students in Islamabad are benefiting from the Teach For Pakistan programme
The Duchess of Cambridge visits a school in Islamabad today as she plays a cup-based game with a little boy
The duke spoke of the UK’s aim of teaching young people about mental health during his visit to Islamabad today
The Duchess of Cambridge smiles as she interacts with a young boy during a visit to a school in Islamabad today
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge spoke to girls at the government-run school in Islamabad today
Prince William holds the hand of a little boy as a girl watches on at Islamabad Model College for Girls in Pakistan today
The Duchess of Cambridge smiles and laughs as she visits a school in Islamabad with Prince William today
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge listen as they speak to teenagers in Islamabad during their visit to Pakistan today
Prince William and the Duchess of Cambridge visit a government-run school on their trip to to Pakistan today
The Duchess of Cambridge visits a school in Islamabad as she plays a cup-based game with a young boy
The Duchess of Cambridge smiles today as she visits a government-run school which educates students in Islamabad
William wore a light blue shirt and dark trousers for the visit to the school in Islamabad today
Ring of steel around Royals: How 1,000 police are protecting Kate and William during historic tour
The visit to Pakistan by the Duke of Duchess of Cambridge has sparked a major security operation involving more than 1,000 police officers due to the ongoing threat of militant terrorism in the Muslim-majority state.
Security in Pakistan prepare for the Cambridges’ visit today
The couple are even taking their own medic for the first time, on what is the first royal visit since Prince Charles and Camilla undertook a lengthy tour in 2006.
All details of their engagements will be released by Kensington Palace on the day due to security considerations.
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office says in its official travel advice: ‘Terrorists are very likely to try to carry out attacks in Pakistan.’
It adds that British nationals of Pakistani origin ‘are at particular risk of kidnap for ransom’, warning some were released but others have been killed.
The FCO says people ‘should avoid large organised gatherings which may expose you to higher risk, such as public protests, religious gatherings and processions, and political rallies’.
The trip by William and Kate, at the request of the FCO, comes during heightened tensions between Pakistan and India over the disputed region of Kashmir.
Authorities in Delhi and Islamabad both claim the Himalayan region in full, but each controls a section of the territory, recognised internationally as ‘Indian-administered Kashmir’ and ‘Pakistan-administered Kashmir’.
Skirmishes between the two sides at the de-facto border have increased this year, causing troop and civilian casualties.
‘Very much so. This is day one but we have been wanting to come (for a long time) so it’s nice to finally be here.
‘My mother was here a long time ago, so it’s very nice, my grandmother was here, my father’s been here….a lot of my family members have been here…’
Kate added: ‘This part of the visit is really important to us, the issue of girls and education.’
William interjected: ‘How easy is it for girls to get access to education in Pakistan? Is it easy for girls to be educated in Pakistan.’
He seemed delighted to hear that Aima wanted to be a brain surgeon and her friends armies to be poets, lawyers, army officers, teachers – and even a famous cricketer.
Afterwards Aima said: ‘It was very interesting it was a real honour. We are big fans of the king and queen. We learnt all about his mother, Diana, the princess.
‘In the UK we’re trying to make sure mental health is part of education as well,’ the duke told a teacher.
He said students from disadvantaged backgrounds do not have a ‘stable health platform to build on’ and that education in this area is important.
William has frequently spoken out on mental health, including recently lending his voice to a promotional video for Every Mind Matters, an initiative by Public Health England and the NHS.
He and Kate heard how students are benefiting from the Teach For Pakistan programme, a fast-track teacher training scheme modelled on the UK’s successful Teach First.
Mohammed Sohailkhan, area education officer, explained that the quality of education, particularly for girls, varied across the country.
‘In recent years there has been gradual progress in understanding how important education is for girls and young women. There is a realisation of what it can mean in terms of jobs and prospects,’ he said.
‘I can’t paint you an entirely rosy picture. It does still fluctuate wildly, particularly in rural regions, where there has traditionally been cultural barriers towards this, notably in terms of sending girls away to college. But these barriers are slowly being broken down. ‘
The couple’s next engagement was at the Margalla Hills National Park, north of Islamabad, where security officials were seen tightening up operations this morning in preparation.
Continuing the theme of education, the couple were meeting children from three local schools in the hills, which sit in the foothills of the Himalayas.
William and Kate also had lunch with Prime Minister Imran Khan and are attending a special reception at the National Monument in their first full day of engagements.
The royal couple continued the second day of their stay in Pakistan with a visit to the Margallah Hills National Park today
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge talk to local people on a visit to the Margalla Hills on the second day of the visit today
Prince William, Duke of Cambridge and Kate, Duchess of Cambridge arrive for a visit to Margalla Hills in Pakistan today
The Duchess of Cambridge holds flowers given to her by local people during a visit to the Margalla Hills today
The couple joked with conservation workers that their son George would love one of the lizards found in the national park
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge talk to local people during a visit to the Margalla Hills in Pakistan today
The Duchess of Cambridge speaks to a ranger at Margallah Hills National Park during her visit to Pakistan today
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge talk with local schoolchildren during their visit to the Margallah Hills today
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge arrive for a visit to Margalla Hills today as their tour of Pakistan continues
The Duke of Cambridge talks to a ranger at Margallah Hills National Park in Islamabad today
The couple arrived at a visitor centre nestled at the foot of the hills to hear about the park’s conservation work today
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge walk with an unidentified man during a visit to the Margallah Hills today
The couple were shown a camera trap strapped to a tree designed to take pictures of animals during their visit today
The couple got to meet a group of children who had been chosen from nearby poor villages for the royal visit today
They couple met children who learn about conservation and environmental protection at regular activity classes at the site
Kate gesticulates (left) and shakes hands with a park ranger (right) during the royal visit to the park in Islamabad today
‘It was such a pleasure to meet him and talk about school. She is so very beautiful. Her kurta was beautiful, it is our country’s dress, she was looking very beautiful and we were very touched that she wore it. ‘
Before they left the couple, who appeared delighted at the way the visit had gone, posed for a group picture with some of the students.
The Government-run school in central Islamabad, which educates students between the ages of 4 and 18, was established in 1978.
It currently benefits from the ‘Teach for Pakistan’ programme, a fast-track teacher training programme modelled on the UK’s successful ‘Teach First’ scheme, which is focused on improving the quality of teaching in schools which serve families from disadvantaged backgrounds.
UK aid has helped more than 5.5 million girls get a quality education since 2011, according to the British High Commission. The duke spoke of the UK’s aim of teaching young people about mental health as he was leaving the school.
The Duchess of Cambridge speaks to pupils during a visit to a government-run school in Islamabad today
The Duke of Cambridge animatedly interacts with students at a school during a trip to Islamabad in Pakistan today
The Duchess of Cambridge laughs as she visits a government-run school in Islamabad with Prince William today
Kate laughs and speaks to pupils at the school in Islamabad today during the royal tour of Pakistan
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge both spoke today about the importance of young people learning about mental health
The visit to the school in Islamabad today was the first stop of the royal tour of Pakistan by the Cambridges
The visit, at the request of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, is said to be the couple’s ‘most complex’ tour to date
Details of engagements are being released each day due to security concerns, with Kate pictured visiting a school today
The visit hopes to strengthen ties between the two nations. The UK is seeking to improve its international relations with Brexit looming, while Pakistan hopes to promote itself as a tourist destination amid security fears.
‘Pakistan is the world’s sixth largest country by population,’ the duke is due to say. ‘It has an unbelievably diverse geography that spans deserts to glaciers and everything in between. It is the birth place of the youngest ever Nobel peace prize winner.
‘We share unique bonds and so it will always be in our best interests for Pakistan to succeed.
‘Not least because of the 1.5 million people living in the UK with Pakistani origin and the fact that the UK is one of the biggest investors in Pakistan’s economy.
‘You can always rely on the UK to keep playing an important role as a key partner and friend.’
Kate chats with students during her visit to a school outside of Islamabad in Pakistan today
The Duchess of Cambridge shakes hands with a student at a government-run school in Islamabad today
Kate chats with students during her visit to the school in Islamabad today, which is part of the five-day tour of Pakistan
The Duchess of Cambridge smiles while playing a game with a young boy during a visit to a school in Islamabad today
The Duchess of Cambridge meets with school children with her husband in Islamabad today
Prince William waves to one of the children waiting to greet him while Kate speaks to others in Islamabad today
With Brexit looming, London is aiming to consolidate its international relationships with the royal visit to Pakistan
Prince William and his wife Kate signalled their support for women’s education by visiting a girls’ school in Islamabad today
The Duchess of Cambridge smiles after arriving for the engagement at Islamabad Model College for Girls today
Prince William and the Duchess of Cambridge greet children as they leave their engagement at the school in Islamabad today
Kate and William speak to staff at the school (left) and Kate applauds while playing a cup-based game today (right)
Soldiers wait for the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge to arrive for their meeting with Prime Minister Imran Khan today
Soldiers await the arrival of Prince William and Kate at the official residence of Pakistan’s Prime Minister Imran Khan today
More than 1,000 Pakistani police officers have been deployed to secure the couple’s safety during their travels across the country. All details of their engagements will be released by the palace on the day for security reasons.
William and Kate were greeted off the plane by Pakistan’s foreign minister, Shah Mehmood Qureshi, and his wife at the Pakistani Air Force base in Rawalpindi, near Islamabad, on Monday night.
After their official welcome, William and Kate headed off in a heavily-guarded convoy to their base for the week, the High Commissioner’s official residence in the capital, Islamabad.
William was expected to spend the evening working on a major speech to be delivered tomorrow in which he is set to highlight the ‘unique bonds’ between the two countries, particularly the 1.5 million people of Pakistani origin living in the UK.
The couple’s presence in Pakistan – the first royal visit since Charles and Camilla undertook a lengthy tour in 2006 – has sparked a major security operation involving more than 1,000 local police officers due to the ongoing threat of militant terrorism in the Muslim-majority state.
The Cambridges looked keen to begin chatting to pupils at the school in central Islamabad, which teaches boys and girls
Kate looked deeply engaged in a conversation with teachers and pupils at the Model College for Girls in Islamabad today
Kate may have left her children at home in London, but she looked thrilled to be chatting to youngsters at the school today
A little boy from the school in Islamabad looks shy as Kate leans in to talk to him at his classroom table this morning
Kate showcased a dazzling pair of earrings that matched her royal blue kurta and scarf designed by Maheen Khan
A group of girls and boys crowded around the Duchess as she sat at their classroom table for a chat this morning
Hello! Kate shakes the hand of a teacher at the Islamabad Model College for Girls this morning as they prepare to speak to pupils
A warm welcome: William shakes the hand of one of the teachers at the Islamabad Model College for Girls in the capital
William and Kate are pictured entering a classroom at the Government-run Islamabad Model College for Girls in Pakistan this morning
Getting involved: William and Kate quickly took seats at tiny chairs to speak to the children at the Islamabad Model College for Girls
Pleased to meet you: William sat at the children’s table to talk to girls and boys at the school in central Islamabad
The Duke and Duchess are visiting a government-run school in central Islamabad today, which educates four to 18-year-olds
Kate beamed as she sat at the children’s table to hear about what they have been learning at school in Islamabad
The Duchess of Cambridge claps next to students at a school on a visit to Islamabad in Pakistan today
Pakistan has, in recent years, been damaged by allegations that the country’s military leadership have sponsored Taliban forces in neighbouring Afghanistan and turned a blind eye to support for Al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden, who was found living in a compound in Abbottabad in 2011.
It is hoped that a successful tour by the Cambridges will help Prime Minister Imran Khan’s efforts to restore his country’s reputation internationally.
The former international cricketer, who has known William since he was a child and was a friend of his late mother, Diana, Princess of Wales, will be meeting with the couple this week.
William and Kate’s travels will span more than 700 miles, taking in both the cities of Islamabad and Lahore, as well as vast mountainous regions in the north and west of the country.
Their Royal Highnesses are meeting with pupils from kindergarten to sixth form at the school in Pakistan today
The Duchess of Cambridge arrives for a visit to Margalla Hills during the royal tour of Pakistan today
Their Royal Highnesses’ engagement in Pakistan today is championing the importance of quality education
The couple are taking part in activities to show Pakistan’s work towards Sustainable Development Goals in Islamabad today
The Duchess of Cambridge interacts with a student at a school on a visit to Islamabad today
The couple are learning in Islamabad today about ‘Teach for Pakistan’, a fast-track teacher training programme scheme
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge visit the Margalla Hills at the foothills of the Himalayas in Islamabad today
Kate and William both smile during their visit to Islamabad today, which was the first full day of their tour to Pakistan
William and Kate visited a government-run school in the capital of Islamabad today during their tour of Pakistan
Today marked the start of the royal couple’s first full day of engagements after arriving in the country yesterday evening
The duke spoke today of the UK’s aim of teaching young people about mental health as he was leaving the school
William said today that students from disadvantaged backgrounds do not have a ‘stable health platform to build on’
Prince William and the Duchess of Cambridge greet park rangers as they join a gathering of children in Islamabad today
William and Kate visit a school in Islamabad today as part of their royal tour of Pakistan this week
The Duchess of Cambridge speaks to a little boy as she visits a school in Islamabad, Pakistan, today
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge join a gathering of children from three different schools in Islamabad today
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge talk to local people during a visit to the Margalla Hills during the royal visit today
Revealed: How Kate and William planned Pakistan trip around their children George, Charlotte and Louis
While William and Kate have decided not to take their three children – Prince George, six, Princess Charlotte, four, and one-year-old Prince Louis – with them to Pakistan, their parents’ five-day tour has still been designed with the youngsters in mind.
The duke and duchess’ 9.35am departure on the British government’s official Voyager plane from RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire yesterday morning was timed so that they could see their children off to school first, sources have revealed. And the trip will conclude on Friday evening so that they can spend the weekend with their young brood.
It is all part of a concerted attempt by the couple and their staff to finely balance their growing official duties on behalf of queen and country with family time, say aides.
While they are away Kate’s parents, Michael and Carole Middleton, will be helping long-term nanny Maria Borrallo with childcare responsibilities.
After their official welcome, William and Kate headed off in a heavily-guarded convoy to their base for the week, the High Commissioner’s official residence in the capital, Islamabad.
William was expected to spend the evening working on a major speech to be delivered today in which he is set to highlight the ‘unique bonds’ between the two countries, particularly the 1.5 million people of Pakistani origin living in the UK, saying:’Pakistan is the world’s sixth largest country bye population. It has an unbelievably diverse geography that spans deserts to glaciers and everything in between. It is the birth place of the youngest ever Nobel Peace prize winner.
‘We share unique bonds and so it will always be in our best interests for Pakistan to succeed. Not least because of the 1.5 million people living in the Uk with Pakistani origin and the fact that the Uk is one of the biggest investors in Pakistan’s economy.
‘You can always rely on the UK to keep playing an important role as a key partner and friend. ‘
The couple are also, for the first time, taking their own medic as part of their official entourage , a friend from William’s days working as a pilot for East Anglian Air Ambulance.
Only the Queen (when she travelled abroad) and the Prince of Wales have a doctor accompany them on foreign tours.
The trip has been designed to showcase the best modern Pakistan has to offer and emphasise the ongoing political, cultural, social and economic ties it enjoys with the UK, highlighting Britain’s continuing role on the international stage away from the Brexit crisis.
Rising tensions with India over the disputed region of Kashmir and continuing concerns over Islamic terror groups means that details of the couple’s engagements are being kept under wraps until the last possible moment.
But aides say the couple are still immensely looking forward to the ‘challenging’ visit, saying: ‘They are now in their late 30s and ready to take on these more complex and demanding tours on behalf of the British Government.’
The couple are keen to meet as many Pakistanis as possible – particularly young people – and highlight work being undertaken to improves access to education for girls and young women, climate change and the ‘complex’ security picture.
The visit will also no doubt prove to be an emotional one for the prince His late mother dated British-Pakistani heart surgeon Hasnat Khan for two years before her death In 1997.
She famously visited the country with her friend Jemima Goldsmith, the British heiress who was then married to Imran Khan, to meet Hasnat’s family in 1996.
Authorities in Delhi and Islamabad both claim the Himalayan region in full, but each controls a section of the territory, recognised internationally as ‘Indian-administered Kashmir’ and ‘Pakistan-administered Kashmir’.
Skirmishes between the two sides at the de-facto border have increased this year, causing troop and civilian casualties.
Pakistan has seen a number of security incidents in recent months, including a bombing outside a shrine in central Lahore, as well as an attack by armed militants on the Pearl Continental Hotel in Gwadar, Balochistan.
With Brexit looming, the tour comes as London hopes to bolster its international relationships, while Islamabad is keen to promote itself as a tourist destination amid concerns over security and violence in the region.
It will span more than 620 miles of the country, including the capital Islamabad, the city of Lahore, the mountainous countryside in the north and border regions to the west.
Their itinerary includes a range of occasions and locations.
William and Kate are expected to meet leaders from government and well-known cultural figures and sporting stars, as well as visiting programmes which empower young people.
The Duchess of Cambridge smiles at a school on a visit to Islamabad in Pakistan today
The couple arrive for a visit to Margalla Hills to join children from local schools in Islamabad today
The Duke and Duchess are today visiting a school in Islamabad, which educates students between the ages of 4 and 18
Kate and William looked calm and relaxed as they stepped out of their car to meet teachers and pupils at the school in Islamabad. Security on the trip is tight and details of all engagements are not being released until the day itself
The Duchess shakes hands with two teachers at the Model College School for Girls in Islamabad this morning
Thank you: William and Kate shake hands with a Pakistani security official to thank them for keeping them safe on their five-day tour of the country
The royals meet two teachers at the Model College School for Girls in Islamabad this morning, on day two of their trip
Next stop: Kate and William are pictured arriving in the Margalla Hills National Park where their next engagement also involves schools
After visiting the school in the centre of Islamabad, they travelled north to the Margalla Hills National Park
Kate joked with park wardens as they arrived at the site, which covers 12,605 hectares of the Pakistani countryside
Having a blast: Kate cracks a huge smile as her and William arrive at the national park, with Kate still sporting her stunning traditional blue kurta and scarf and pair of blue earrings
Continuing the theme of education, the couple are meeting children from three local schools in hills, which sit in the foothills of the Himalayas
Security officials are pictured preparing for the couple to arrive at Margalla Hills in Pakistan for their next engagement
More security: The Duke and Duchess are visiting the Margalla Hills National Park in Pakistan for their next engagement
Pakistan tour is a sign of the Queen’s ‘terrific faith’ in Kate, royal author claims
The Duchess of Cambridge has ‘won people over’ by ‘doing her duty and never putting a step wrong’, according to a royal author.
Ingrid Seward, editor of Majesty magazine, said that while Kate Middleton, 37, hadn’t had an easy time at the beginning of her time with the royal family, she has ‘won people over’ by working hard and making few mistakes.
The royal commentator also suggested the royal tour of Pakistan, which starts today, was an indication of the respect the Queen had for Kate.
She told Hello! magazine: ‘The Pakistan Tour is very serious and politically sensitive and it’s a great honour that she and William have been asked to do it. The Queen has obviously got a terrific faith in their ability to do it brilliantly.’
And Ingrid suggested the royal trip was coming at a very happy time in the Duchesses’ life, pointing to her ‘family unit’ and successful summer of projects as evidence.
They will also cover how communities in Pakistan are responding and adapting to climate change, and are due to spend time understanding the ‘complex security picture’ of the region.
Their tour of Pakistan comes more than 13 years since the last royal visit, seen as one of the most perilous royal foreign tours for some time, when the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall travelled to the country in 2006.
William and Kate are following in the footsteps of both his parents, as Diana, Princess of Wales, made the journey several times through her charity work.
An image of the Princess cuddling a gravely ill seven-year-old boy was among Diana’s favourites and she kept a copy of it always.
It was taken amid the chaos of a Pakistan cancer hospital in 1996 and was a reflex action on her part.
The little boy did not once look at her because he was blind and had just weeks to live.
To Diana, the picture represented everything about how she wished to be seen: compassionate and ready to break down the barriers of protocol.
The Princess visited the country three times, once when married to Prince Charles and twice more after her separation when she was in love with the Pakistan-born heart surgeon Hasnat Khan.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are embarking on the first full day of their tour of Pakistan by highlighting the importance of education for girls after arriving in Islamabad last night
The Kensington Royal Instagram released this picture of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge arriving in Pakistan last night and it immediately had thousands of likes
Kate (left) and William will be following in the footsteps of both the Duke of Cambridge’s parents, as Diana (right), Princess of Wales, made the journey several times through her charity work. The Cambridges are pictured arriving last night
The Duchess is pictured receiving flowers (left and right) from adoring visitors as she landed in the country yesterday evening
Duke of Cambridge Prince William and his wife Kate Middleton are welcomed by Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi (left) at Nur Khan Airbase in Rawalpindi yesterday
Prince William and Kate receive flowers from children upon their arrival at the Pakistan’s Nur Khan military airbase last night
The Duchess of Cambridge (middle) and The Duke of Cambridge are welcomed yesterday evening by Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi (left) at Nur Khan Airbase in Rawalpindi
Prince William, centre right, and the Duchess of Cambridge (centre left) are welcomed yesterday by Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi (right) upon their arrival at the Pakistan’s Nur Khan military airbase in Rawalpindi
At the time, she was considering marriage to him and even moving to his homeland.
During her trips, she would slip away privately to meet his family but there will be no such cloak-and-dagger antics for Prince William.
It is far more likely that he and Kate will follow the template of Diana’s 1991 tour, her first solo visit representing the Queen to a Commonwealth country.
The couple have left their three children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, at home during their visit.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge at the Aga Khan Centre in London at the beginning of October – ahead of their trip to Pakistan
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge meet with guests during the special event hosted by the Aga Khan in London at the beginning of October
Prince Charles and Camilla arrive at Islamabad Airport at the start of their official visit to Pakistan in October 2006
Charles and Camilla tour the ruins of houses in Pattika, Pakistan, in November 2006 – a year after it was hit by an earthquake
Charles holds a traditional Pakistani hat known as a ‘Tasher’ he was presented with as Camilla laughs in Islamabad in 2006
RICHARD KAY on Pakistan and Princess Diana: How William’s mother – in love with a doctor born in the country – seriously thought about making it home
The image of the Princess cuddling a gravely ill seven-year-old boy Mohammed Ashrif in 1996 was among Diana’s favourites and she kept a copy of it always
Of all the countless photographs of Princess Diana, it’s far from the most memorable.
It has neither the significance of her seated alone at the Taj Mahal, nor the symbolism of that walk through an Angolan minefield.
It most certainly has none of the indelible glamour of her dancing with John Travolta at the White House.
But the image of the Princess cuddling a gravely ill seven-year-old boy was among Diana’s favourites and she kept a copy of it always.
It was taken amid the chaos of a Pakistan cancer hospital in 1996 and was a reflex action on her part.
Never once did the little boy look directly at the woman holding him close because he could not. He was blind and had weeks to live.
To Diana, the picture represented everything about how she wished to be seen: compassionate and ready to break down the barriers of protocol.
Since her death, that baton of royal informality and spontaneity has been picked up by her sons, most notably by Prince Harry in Africa last month.
Now it is William’s turn as he and Kate arrive in Pakistan, the country that in the last year of her life Diana was more closely identified with than any other.
It is the first time a member of the Royal Family has set foot there for 13 years because violence and terrorism had made it dangerous and unstable.
Inevitably, their five-day visit will bring back memories of the visits made by the Prince’s mother.
In all, Diana visited three times, once when still married to Prince Charles and twice more after her separation when she was deeply in love with the Pakistan-born heart surgeon Hasnat Khan.
At the time, she was considering marriage to him and even moving to his homeland.
Princess Diana (right), Jemima Khan and Imran Khan (left) stand outside the Shaukat Khanum Trust Hospital in Lahore in May 1997
During her trips, she managed to slip away privately to meet his family. There will be no such cloak-and-dagger antics for Prince William, of course.
It is far more likely that he and Kate will follow the template of Diana’s 1991 tour, her first solo visit representing the Queen to a Commonwealth country.
It was widely expected to be a failure. Indeed, there were some in her then- husband’s camp who were actively hoping it would be.
As one of her key aides from the tour recalls: ‘I knew that many of them expected/wanted us to f*** it up and we didn’t. The opening line of the High Commissioner’s post-trip telegram was, ‘The Princess of Wales took Pakistan by storm.’ And she did.’
A chance meeting in the royal box at Wimbledon between the Princess and Pakistan’s then prime minister Benazir Bhutto in 1989 led to the invitation.
But a military coup the following year, in which Bhutto was overthrown, delayed the trip for two years.
Diana was determined to go. ‘I’d had five vaccinations for typhoid, polio, tetanus, cholera and hepatitis A — I couldn’t not go!’ she said.
Aides crafted a programme to reinforce her mainstream royal credentials, although speculation about the state of her marriage was growing, culminating in a blizzard of headlines when it was revealed that Diana would spend her 30th birthday apart from Prince Charles.
Since her death, that baton of royal informality and spontaneity has been picked up by her sons, most notably by Prince Harry in Africa last month. Now it is William’s turn as he and Kate arrive in Pakistan today
So the tour was built around traditional royal elements — laying a wreath at Commonwealth war graves and formal cultural and ceremonial events.
Diana’s visit to the country’s holiest shrine, the Mughal mosque of Badshawi in Lahore, for example, where she was photographed barefoot, is almost certainly to be on William and Kate’s itinerary.
But amid the formality aides included engagements aligned to her charitable interests.
She went to a drug detoxification unit and flew to Peshawar to visit a centre for disabled Afghan refugees established by the veteran ITN newsreader Sandy Gall where, for the first time, she learned about the indiscriminate horror of landmines.
Nor did she hold back from using her position to gently admonish Pakistan’s notoriously male-dominated hierarchy.
In a speech on health, education, drugs and population control, she teased: ‘These might be areas in which women can make a special contribution.’
She had already broken with some traditions by shaking hands with male officials on her arrival.
Among the first people he will meet is Pakistan’s Prime Minister Imran Khan, the former heart-throb cricketer turned politician. It was Khan, then the husband of Diana’s friend Jemima Goldsmith, who hosted Diana’s visits to Pakistan in 1996 and 1997
It was reported that they had been dazzled by her outfit, a calf-length silk dress in green and white, Pakistan’s national colours.
Planners ensured that her programme contained nothing indulgent, nothing frivolous, nothing experimental and no animal charities.
(As she once told her private secretary Patrick Jephson: ‘We’ll do animal charities when we run out of people charities.’)
Everywhere she went, she was mobbed by well-wishers.
Inevitably, William’s progress this week will be monitored especially to see if it is he, rather than his brother, who has the stronger claim to Diana’s legacy.
Ever since his gap-year trip to Lesotho in 2004 where he established his charity, Sentebale, Harry has staked out his mother’s territory as his own.
Diana’s visit to the country’s holiest shrine, the Mughal mosque of Badshawi in Lahore, for example, where she was photographed barefoot, is almost certainly to be on William and Kate’s itinerary
His trip with Meghan to South Africa last month was, at first, an impressive example of royal ‘soft diplomacy’ (at least until he detonated his attack on the Press).
William, too, has been adopting issues close to Diana’s memory.
He has spoken out on LGBT rights, a new development for the royals just as Aids was for Diana in the Eighties, and like her he is also a regular visitor to the Royal Marsden, the cancer hospital, in London.
He, too, mixes hugs for nursing staff with bedside chats for patients. For William, the echoes of his mother will be all around.
Among the first people he will meet is Pakistan’s Prime Minister Imran Khan, the former heart-throb cricketer turned politician.
It was Khan, then the husband of Diana’s friend Jemima Goldsmith, who hosted Diana’s visits to Pakistan in 1996 and 1997, by which time she was divorced and had been shorn of her HRH title.
And it was at the cancer hospital that Imran built in his late mother’s name that Diana had nursed that blind little boy.
There is another intriguing link: Prime Minister Khan is a cousin — albeit a distant one — of Dr Hasnat Khan and he offered to be a go-between with the doctor for Diana.
Diana was fascinated by Jemima’s life and how she had adapted to Pakistani culture.
Could she, too, adjust? She travelled to Pakistan with hope that she would win the approval of her beau’s family.
When Dr Khan became close to Diana, it is easy to understand the excitement this social triumph generated among the Khan family back home.
Family members spoke of the two enjoying an ‘Eastern love affair, not a Western one’. It was pure and chaste, they said.
(Years later, in a statement to police investigating her death, Hasnat Khan said that he and Diana had a normal sexual relationship.)
In February 1996, she flew to Pakistan with Lady Annabel Goldsmith, Jemima’s mother, in a private jet. This time her welcome was not quite so warm.
It was not long after her explosive BBC TV Panorama interview and one commentator was scathing.
‘She is seen as a person in a troubled marriage on the verge of divorce who openly admits to adultery on television. It might be acceptable in Britain but she is not a good role model in Pakistan,’ he said.
It was after her third visit to the country, in May 1997, that she decided life in Pakistan was too volatile, too unpredictable.
Her relationship with the heart surgeon ended abruptly and, six weeks later, Diana was dead.
Hasnat Khan, one of the few people drawn into the whirlwind of Diana’s life to emerge with any credit, continues to devote himself to his work both in Britain and in Pakistan where, like Imran Khan, he has established his own hospital.
For William and Kate, meanwhile, this week will be a chance to write a new chapter in royal relations with Pakistan.
‘It’s not about laying ghosts,’ says a friend. ‘[William] is proud of what his mother achieved and he is proud to be following in her footsteps.’
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