ISLAMABAD: Prince William and Kate Middleton, continue their tour of Pakistan today in the eastern city of Lahore — the cultural hub of the country.
The royal couple was received by Governor Punjab Chaudhry Muhammad Sarwar, Chief Minister Usman Buzdar and other dignitaries at Lahore Airport.
Britain's Prince William and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge arrive in Lahore, Pakistan October 17, 2019. (Reuters)
From the airport, they went to the SOS Children’s Village where they interacted with the children. The duchess also addressed a ceremony at the SOS facility.
Britain's Prince William and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, visit SOS Children's village in Lahore, Pakistan October 17, 2019. (Reuters)
Britain's Prince William and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, visit SOS Children's village in Lahore, Pakistan October 17, 2019. (Reuters)
The royal couple was all smiles celebrating a child’s birthday there.
Britain's Prince William and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, visit SOS Children's village in Lahore, Pakistan October 17, 2019. (Reuters)
The pair then visited the National Cricket Academy where they were welcomed by Pakistan’s famous former cricketer Wasim Akram, who currently heads the Pakistan Cricket Board. Several cricketers including Azhar Ali, Sana Mir, Hassan Ali, Shaheen Afridi, and Waqar Younus were also there to welcome the royal couple.
Britain's Prince William and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, shake hands with children participants of the British Council's DOSTI (friendship) program at the National Cricket Academy in Lahore, Pakistan October 17, 2019. (Reuters)
Britain's Prince William plays a shot during his visit at the National Cricket Academy in Lahore, Pakistan October 17, 2019. (Reuters)
Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge visits the National Cricket academy in Lahore, Pakistan. October 17, 2019. (Reuters)
The duo won hearts by playing cricket with the cricketers and young children. The Pakistani officials presented cricket bats to the royal couple as presents for Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis.
Prince William and Kate also visited the historic Badshahi Mosque in Lahore’s Walled City.
Britain's Prince William and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge visit the Badshahi Mosque in Lahore, Pakistan October 17, 2019. (Reuters)
Kensington Palace confirmed on social media that the pair will be meeting with patients at Shaukat Khan Hospital, the posted a vintage shot of the late Princess Diana doing the very same thing.
Today The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will visit the bustling city of Lahore, known widely across Pakistan as the country's city of culture!@UKinPakistan #RoyalVisitPakistan pic.twitter.com/c9xqrOiQUw
— Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) October 17, 2019
“In 1996 and 1997 Diana, Princess of Wales visited the Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital, a state-of-the-art cancer facility located in the center of Lahore,” wrote Kensington Palace on their official Instagram page under the photo of Diana with a patient at Shaukat Khanum. “Over twenty years on, The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will visit the children’s ward at the hospital today.”
Kensington Palace shares a shot of the late Lady Diana on a visit to Shaukat Khanum. The Royal visited Shaukat Khanum as a guest of Imran Khan and then-wife Jemima Goldsmith in 1996 and 1997 (Image via Kensington Royal Instagram)
So far, the Duke and Duchess have maintained their goal to meet with Pakistani people, experiencing various cultures that exist within Pakistan.
During the visit to Pakistan’s mountainous Chitral District, they were given a detailed briefing on glacial melting, climate change and its causes and impact on fragile and remote communities, the British High Commission said.
Britain’s Prince William and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge visit the Chiatibo glacier in the Hindu Kush mountain range in the Chitral District of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province in Pakistan on Oct. 16, 2019. (Reuters)
They also traveled to Bumburet, home to the iconic Kalash tribe to experience the rich culture and history of the area.
Britain's Prince William and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge visit a settlement of the Kalash people in Chitral, Pakistan, October 16, 2019. (Reuters)
