By Ajmal Khan Yousafzai
ISLAMABAD: The visiting Royal couple, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, Prince William and Kate Middleton, were hosted by President and Prime Minister of Pakistan on the first day of their visit here on Tuesday.
The royal couple – who is currently on a 5-day tour to Pakistan, was received by the Premier, who also hosted a luncheon in their honour.
Prince William’s late mother, Lady Diana, was a friend of PM Imran and his former spouse Jemima Goldsmith and visited Pakistan twice, 1996 and 1997, to help raise funds for the Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital.
Prior to their meeting with the Prime Minister, the visiting couple met President Arif Alvi at the President House, where the president and his wife Samina Arif welcomed the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.
Middleton, who earlier donned a royal blue kurta, changed into a green attire for the formal receptions.
During their meeting with the president, the royal couple was accompanied by the British High Commissioner to Pakistan Thomas Drew; Simon Case, the Principal Private Secretary to the Duke; and Christian Jones, the Communications Secretary to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.
This is the first visit of the duke and duchess to Pakistan, during which they aim to “meet as many Pakistanis as possible and build a lasting friendship with the people of the country”.
The couple kicked off their engagements on the second day of their five-day trip to Pakistan with a visit to the Islamabad Model College for Girls, University Colony on Tuesday morning, where they interacted with the staff and students and visited classrooms.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, who are strong advocates of girls’ education, were greeted by teachers and children on their arrival at the school.
Clips shared by British media show one of the schoolgirls telling William that “they were fans” of his mother, Diana, Princess of Wales. “That’s very sweet of you. I was a big fan of my mother too,” he replied with a smile.
After their visit to the school, they arrived at Trail 5, Margalla Hills to attend an event regarding environmental protection. Strict security arrangements were made prior to their arrival.
“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,” said Kensington Palace on Twitter.
The royal visitors will end their first full day at a reception hosted by the British High Commission at the National Monument, which will showcase the very best of Pakistan music and culture.
William and Kate arrived in Islamabad on Monday night and were received by Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi and his wife Mehriene Qureshi at the Nur Khan Airbase in Rawalpindi.
British High Commissioner to Pakistan Thomas Drew was also present on the occasion.
The five-day visit, which will end on October 18, has been organised at the request of the United Kingdom’s Foreign and Commonwealth Office.
According to a handout from Kensington Palace, the British royal couple will visit Islamabad, Lahore, Gilgit-Baltistan and rugged border regions to the West.
The visit will span over 1,000 kilometers and will take in Pakistan’s rich culture, its diverse communities, and its beautiful landscapes, the handout said.
The British Royal couple, Prince William and Kate Middleton, called on President ArifAlvi and Prime Minister Imran Khan in Islamabad.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge met President Alvi and First Lady SaminaAlvi today, later they attended a luncheon organized by PM Khan at the Prime Minister House.
Both the visiting royals were received by the prime minister at the PM House.
Earlier in the day, the pair also paid a visit to a government girls’ high school and graced an event about the environment on Trail 05 of Margalla Hills.
The British Royal couple arrived in Islamabad yesterday on a five-day official visit to Pakistan.
The visiting couple was given a guard of honour on their arrival at the Noor Khan Airbase. Foreign Minister Shah MehmoodQureshi welcomed Prince William and Kate Middleton.
Streets in Islamabad and around the country have been humming with festivities and celebrations to honour the royal pair with more than 1,000 police officers deployed for their security over the span of their five-day visit.
The visit will be concluded on October 18.
It is the first royal visit to Pakistan in 13 years. The last one was by Charles, the Prince of Wales, and Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, who spent five days in Pakistan in 2006.
Meanwhile, Alvi appreciated the role played by the Royal pair in the social sector.
Earlier in the day, the pair also paid a visit to a government girls’ high school and graced an event about the environment on Trail 05 of Margalla Hills.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are on a five-day visit to Pakistan, during which they would visit Lahore and the Northern areas of Pakistan.
It is the first royal visit to Pakistan in 13 years. The last one was by Charles, the Prince of Wales, and Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, who spent five days in Pakistan in 2006.
