Kate to make speech during royal visit to Lahore
The Duke of Cambridge will follow in the footsteps of his mother Diana, Princess of Wales, with a visit to the bustling city of Lahore.
The duke and duchess are set to experience Pakistan’s love for cricket in their fourth day of their royal tour of Pakistan.
William and Kate will visit the capital of Punjab – situated close to Pakistan’s border with India and considered one of the Commonwealth country’s more colourful and cultural cities.
Their itinerary on Thursday begins with a birthday party at SOS Children’s Village, a charitable organisation in the heart of the city established in 1977.
The duchess is expected to speak at the event, which will involve games, music and traditional Pakistani cakes.
It will be her first speech of the week, following the duke’s address on Tuesday evening.
Next up is a visit to the National Cricket Academy, where the couple will join youngsters for a match of Pakistan’s national game.
The children are participating in the British Council’s DOSTI programme – Dosti meaning friendship in Urdu – which promotes sport as an integral part of child development.
The couple will have the opportunity to meet a number of Pakistan’s cricketing legends, having already had lunch with former international cricket Prime Minister Imran Khan on Tuesday.
William and Kate will then be taken on a tour of the Badshahi Mosque, the most historic Islamic site in Lahore, set in the heart of the Walled City.
The duke will be following in the footsteps of both of his parents with the visit. His mother Diana, Princess of Wales visited the site in 1991, and it was also included in the 2006 royal tour of Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall.
Wrapping up their forth and penultimate day, the couple will then travel to the Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital and Research Centre.
The cancer facility is another location previously visited by the late Diana, as a guest of her friend Mr Khan.
The royal couple will visit the children’s ward to spend time with patients undergoing treatment at the hospital, and are anticipated to speak to a number of their families.
Their third day of engagements on Wednesday saw the couple focus on climate change.
After an excursion to a melting glacier in the Hindu Kush mountain rash in northern Pakistan, the couple were given colourful welcome to a settlement of the Kalash people.
They watched a traditional dance and were presented with vibrantly coloured hats and scarves, with the duchess’s colourful beaded head wear featuring a large fuschia feather.