Prince William and Kate Middleton's Top 5 Tour Moments from Pakistan — So Far!
Prince William and Kate Middleton are at the halfway mark of their tour of Pakistan — and their so-called “soft power” has never been on clearer display.
The royal couple have been stepping out for a series of carefully planned engagements on what aides have described as their “most complex” tour to date in an effort to reinvigorate links between Britain and Pakistan in a troubled region. From celebrating local business to putting a spotlight on the climate crisis, the future king and queen are packing in diplomacy and bridge-building befitting their roles:
1. Boosting local tourism. Theirs is the first royal tour to Pakistan since 2006 – underlining the difficulties, because of security, that have existed in the 13 years since. But diplomats and insiders point to the fact that British Airways is flying again to Islamabad and London mayor Sadiq Khan – who is of Pakistani heritage – visited in December 2017. By visiting Chitral and the Kalash village on Wednesday, the couple were able to show some of the wonders of the north of the country and that they are open for business.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge visited a settlement of the Kalash people in Northern Pakistan, to learn more about their unique heritage and traditions. #RoyalVisitPakistan pic.twitter.com/I1D7qF0WAp
— Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) October 16, 2019
2. Diplomatic duo. By referring to his grandmother Queen Elizabeth and dad Prince Charles while standing on the hill above Islamabad, William subtly reminded the 250 guests at a reception at the Pakistan Monument of the longstanding links between the two countries. And following his much-praised trip to Israel and the disputed territories in 2016, he and Kate are showing that on a very basic, human level, their non-political position can have some warming impact in countries that are also at the center of geo-political challenges. Observers noted how animated Kate was as she chatted with First Lady Samina Alvi during their meeting with President Dr. Arif Alvi.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge meet The President of Pakistan @ArifAlvi at the Presidential Palace in Islamabad. #RoyalVisitPakistan pic.twitter.com/zs0NI5TiYC
— Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) October 15, 2019
And while meeting Prime Minister Imran Khan might have been viewed as personal — William was a teen when they first met — they were also able to exchange notes on the issues facing Pakistan and the region. The meeting was a showcased a young royal couple meeting the leader of a country with a youthful average age of just 24 among its 210 million population.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge attended an official meeting and lunch with Prime Minister @ImranKhanPTI in Islamabad. #RoyalVisitPakistan pic.twitter.com/d23kEdtBkx
— Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) October 15, 2019
3. Sensational style. On Tuesday, Kate stepped out in a traditional shalwar kameez, and later that evening William confidently wore a sherwani. “They are enjoying each and every moment and giving a message to the world that Pakistan is a very peaceful country,” says Naumen Arfeen, who designed the coat-like garment for William. “He knows how to handle it and carry it. That was simply superb.” Veteran observers on the tour note that the style choice pays tribute to local customs in a way that will play well back home in the U.K., where there are 1.5 million people of Pakistani heritage.
In the Margalla Hills, which sit in the foothills of the Himalayas, The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge joined children from four local schools taking part in activities designed to educate young people on environmental protection and wildlife conservation. #RoyalVisitPakistan pic.twitter.com/raSC3HmOeU
— Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) October 15, 2019
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge tuk-tuk a ride to tonight's special #RoyalVisitPakistan reception at the iconic Pakistan National Monument, to celebrate the prosperous UK-Pakistan relationship 🇬🇧🇵🇰 pic.twitter.com/aZnBmGCUQZ
— Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) October 15, 2019
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4. Highlighting climate change. Many people would not associate Pakistan with having glaciers, but by visiting and showing the devastation of flooding caused by melting ice to millions of people, William and Kate helped spotlight the issue. Local residents, said a translator, “are glad that people are learning more about this. It’s a source of pride. They can’t forget this day.”
At a glacier in the Hindu Kush mountain range, in the Chitral District of Pakistan’s Khyber-Pakhtunkwa Province, The Duke and Duchess walked around the northern tip of the glacier, and saw how it has retreated in recent years as a result of global warming. #RoyalVisitPakistan pic.twitter.com/eGTqwVhXg3
— Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) October 16, 2019
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5. Education for all. During a visit Tuesday, Kate praised a local school as a “very positive environment.” As the couple highlighted the work to get more girls into higher education and careers beyond school, they were told of moves being taken to “empower young people and organizations that help ensure they have the best possible start in life,” says their palace spokesman. The Duchess, who has made the early years of childhood the central plank of her public work, wants to absorb as much information as possible about the experiences of children around the world as well as at home and has done similar visits at most of their foreign tours.
49% of girls are out of school in Pakistan — The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s engagement at Islamabad Model College is championing the importance of quality education, and how girls benefit from pursuing higher education and professional careers #RoyalVisitPakistan pic.twitter.com/kkjbAj5tdV
— Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) October 15, 2019
At Islamabad Model College, The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge joined kindergarten, Grade 4 and A-level students to see how they are benefiting from the @TeachforPak programme. #RoyalVisitPakistan pic.twitter.com/Hp4i8BntXD
— Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) October 15, 2019