The royal couple pays homage to Gandhi, lunches with PM Modi
Prince William and Kate Middleton paid homage to Mahatma Gandhi at Gandhi Smriti on Tees January Marg. They also paid their respects at the Martyr's Column. Later, the royal couple was greeted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi who hosted a lunch in the honour of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. The couple will leave for Assam to see the Kaziranga National Park today.
Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip had come to India on Royal visit twice, first in 1961 and next in 1983. The Prince of Wales, Charles, had visited India eight times since 1975 and officially represented the Queen twice. Princess Diana had accompanied Prince Charles to India in 1992. Prince Charles' recent visit was along with the Duchess of Cornwall Camilla Parker in 2013.
During Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Buckingham Palace in Nov'15, the Queen had announced that her grandson Prince William and his wife Kate Middleton would make their maiden royal visit to India together. The Kensington Palace revealed on Twitter that the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge had undertaken the request of the Queen's government, and would visit India in the spring of 2016.
An official statement revealed that William and Kate would experience the four things Indians are passionate about – Bollywood, cricket, politics, and family. They would attend a star-studded reception and dinner along with celebrities of Bollywood and well-known business magnates in Mumbai. The reception would be hosted by the British High Commission and the British Asian Trust, of which Prince Charles is the founder.
Shah Rukh Khan and Aishwarya Rai would introduce British's Royal couple Prince William and Kate Middleton at the reception. Khan said that the formal event would be attended by Amitabh Bachchan, Aamir Khan, Sachin Tendulkar and many others.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have arrived in Mumbai at the start of a seven-day tour of India and Bhutan. Prince William and Kate Middleton who are traveling without their children, will lay a wreath at a memorial to Mumbai's 2008 terrorist attacks, and visit a slum. They will also tour the Kaziranga National Park, famous for its one-horned rhinoceroses, tigers and elephants.
Prince William and Kate Middleton's 7-day royal visit to India and Bhutan is aimed at building strong bonds between the UK and the other two countries. On their first day in India, the couple would participate in a cricket match in Mumbai. The cricket match between beneficiaries and representatives of three Mumbai-based charities–Doorstep, Magic Bus and Childline India, would take place at Oval Maidan.
The dabbawalas of Mumbai had sought the British High Commission's permission to meet the royal couple for a few minutes to welcome them with dhols and present the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge with a shawl and a saree.
Prince William along with his wife was expected to visit all those places which his parents had been to 24 years earlier. They would land at Mumbai and stay at Taj Palace Hotel, which was targeted by the terrorists in 2008. They would also meet PM Modi over lunch and visit the India Gate and pay respects to Mahatma Gandhi in Delhi.
After visiting several places in India, the couple would travel to Bhutan. They had accepted the invitation from Bhutan's royal couple, King Jigme Khesar Namgyal Wangchuck, and Queen Jetsun Pema. They were expected to visit an ancient 1692 Monastery, Paro Taktsang, also known as Tiger's Nest in Bhutan. On 16 April, the couple would wind up their Indian tour at Taj Mahal in Agra.
