London: Britain’s Prince William and wife Kate Middleton will make their first official visit to Pakistan later this year, more than 13 years after the last royal visit to the country, Kensington Palace announced.
The visit is expected between September and November and according to some UK media reports, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge is expected to undergo hostile environment training before the week-long trip in view of the terror threat in the region.
The details of the tour are yet to be unveiled but the palace confirmed that the visit is being undertaken on the request of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO). “The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will undertake an official visit to Pakistan this autumn, at the request of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. Further details will be advised in due course,” Kensington Palace said in a Twitter statement on Saturday.
William and Kate, both 37, are expected to travel to Pakistani capital of Islamabad and also to Lahore, Quetta, Karachi and Peshawar.
Their young children, Prince George, 5, Princess Charlotte, 4, and Prince Louis, 1, are expected to remain in the UK. “The upcoming royal visit is a reflection of the importance the UK attaches to its relations with Pakistan.
The two countries enjoy historical links which both sides wish to strengthen further,” said Mohammad Nafees Zakaria, the High Commissioner for Pakistan to the UK. (PTI)
