The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have arrived in Pakistan’s capital Islamabad for their first Royal trip to Pakistan. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, Kate Middleton and Prince William touched down at Pakistani Air Force Base Nur Khan on Monday evening as they kick off their historic five-day tour.
According to the report by the Sun, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will be guarded by a ring of steel with 1,000 police officers on a visit dubbed the “most complex” ever by Kensington Palace.
Kate and Wills were given flowers by local children in the traditional dress when they stepped off the British Government’s RAF Voyager plane.
The Duchess looked elegant in an aqua shalwar kameez – a traditional Pakistani outfit comprised of a long dress and trousers.
The ombre look, featuring a draped neckline, is inspired by the traditional shalwar kameez, a lightweight outfit that pairs a loose-fitting tunic top with pants underneath.
Kate’s outfit was by Catherine Walker, one of her go-to designers that were also a favourite of Princess Diana It was seen by many royal observers as a respectful nod to the traditions of the strict Muslim country.
The couple’s visit is the first official one to be made by the royal family to the country since Prince Charles and Camilla visited back in 2006.
In their public announcement of the trip, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge said their visit will span more than 1,000km of the hardline country.
It will take in Islamabad, the city of Lahore, the mountainous countryside in the north and border regions to the west.
It’s been stated the Duke and Duchess’s programme will “pay respect to the historical relationship between Britain and Pakistan”.
Their five-day-tour will “largely focus on showcasing Pakistan as it is today – a dynamic, aspirational and forward-looking nation.”
Their trip also involves visiting programmes “which empower young people, and organisations that help ensure they have the best possible start in life.
They are expected to meet political and cultural leaders, see how communities in Pakistan are responding to the impacts of climate change, and deepen their understanding of unrest in the region.
A statement released by Kensington Palace earlier this month said: “This is the most complex tour undertaken by The Duke and Duchess to date, given the logistical and security considerations.
“Pakistan hosts one of Britain’s largest overseas networks, with the British High Commission in Islamabad being one of the UK’s largest diplomatic missions in the world.”
The last royal visit to the country was made by the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall in 2006.
The royal couple will also be following in the footsteps of the Duke’s mother, Princess Diana, who visited Pakistan three times during her life.
Her visits saw her lay a wreath at Commonwealth war graves, tour Lahore’s iconic Badshahi Mosque, and visit a centre for disabled Afghan refugees.
This week’s tour comes as London seeks to strengthen its international ties ahead of Britain’s exit from the European Union, while Islamabad hopes to encourage tourism and reassure prospective visitors over security.
Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi told reporters on Friday: “This is a goodwill visit, and they want to promote good relations between Pakistan, England and our new generation.”
Government spokesman Iftikhar Durrani said: “This visit is definitely going to help Pakistan build an image in the world, to see that this place is no more security risk, this place is peaceful enough to host dignities like the royal couple.”
He added that the Pakistani government would use the visits to highlight its current stance on the dispute over Kashmir.