The Duke and Duchess are off to school
Highlighting the importance of education and mental health, the couple visited the Islamabad Model College for Girls in the capital. The visit was designed to champion the importance of quality education, and highlight how girls benefit from pursuing higher education and professional careers.
Check out all the photos from day one here.
A Fairytale Start to the Royal Tour
Arriving at the Nur Khan air base in Rawalpindi just after 9.30pm, the royal couple were accorded a red-carpet reception as they left the British Government’s RAF Voyager plane together.
The Royals in Pakistan: What’s happening?
As one Royal Tour ends, another begins.
Prince William and Kate Middleton are about to embark on a tour of Pakistan just a week after Prince Harry and Meghan Marke returned home from South Africa.
Their itinerary has been described as the most “complex and sensitive” royal tour to date, as the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge prepare for a five-day visit spanning October 14 to 18.
The trip will encompass a series of engagements ranging from conservation to national security, and arts and culture to female empowerment.
They will also learn about, and provide support for, the many issues the youth of Pakistan faces today.
The visit will also be an opportunity to showcase the historic relationship between Great Britain and Commonwealth nation Pakistan.
According to The Daily Express, they will be supported by a 14-strong entourage including the couple’s Private Secretaries, security personnel and a stylist.
William and Kate will be travelling without their three children George, Charlotte and Louis.
Where are they going?
After landing in the capital of Islamabad, they will travel to the city of Lahore before heading to the mountainous north and the border regions to the west.
What will they be doing?
“The Duke and Duchess have asked that this tour allow them opportunities to meet as many Pakistanis as possible,” Buckingham Palace said in a statement.
“Over the course of the visit, Their Royal Highnesses will meet a wide variety of people, including children and young people; leaders from government, business, and the charity sector; inspiring conservationists; and well-known cultural figures and sporting stars.”
The royal couple are said to be keen to “take in Pakistan’s rich culture, its diverse communities, and its beautiful landscapes …Throughout the tour, Their Royal Highnesses will visit programs which empower young people, and organizations that help ensure they have the best possible start in life,”
“Access to quality education, particularly to girls and young women, is one of the U.K.’s top priorities in Pakistan. The Duke and Duchess are looking forward to spending time meeting young Pakistanis, and hearing more about their aspirations for the future.”
Why are they going?
With over a million Pakistanis calling Britain home, the UK has important social, economic and cultural links with Pakistan.
The countries also share important military intelligence and aid with the aim of resolving Pakistan’s many security issues.
The British High Commission in Islamabad is one of the UK’s largest diplomatic projects anywhere in the world.
Last week, Prince William and Kate visited London’s Aga Kahn Centre and revealed that they are “looking forward” to building a lasting friendship with the people of the country.
