Prince William and Kate arrive in Pakistan for royal trip that will pay homage to late Princess Diana
Prince William and Kate, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, made a glamorous entrance in Pakistan Monday as they arrived for the start of their five-day official royal tour.
Kate stepped off the plane in Islamabad in an aqua blue shalwar kameez-inspired dress, a traditional style of dress for Pakistani women.
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The outfit was designed by Catherine Walker, one of the royal family's go-to designers who was also a favorite of Prince William's mother, the late Princess Diana.
William and Kate's trip is expected to draw many comparisons to the three trips Diana made to Pakistan in the 1990s, including one just months before her death in 1997.
On Thursday, William and Kate are scheduled to visit the Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital, which Princess Diana also visited on her trip.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's five-day trip will focus on "showcasing Pakistan as it is today – a dynamic, aspirational and forward-looking nation," according to Kensington Palace. They are visiting the country at the request of the U.K.'s Foreign and Commonwealth Office.
Like Prince Harry and Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, did on their recent tour of South Africa, William and Kate will focus on meeting with and spotlighting young people in Pakistan.
"Access to quality education, particularly to girls and young women, is one of the UK’s top priorities in Pakistan," Kensington Palace said in a statement. "The Duke and Duchess are looking forward to spending time meeting young Pakistanis, and hearing more about their aspirations for the future."
As William and Kate visit with organizations and people in Pakistan, they will be trailed by a very heavy security presence. More than 1,000 police have been deployed in Pakistan to help protect the duke and duchess.
Kensington Palace called the five-day tour the "most complex tour undertaken by The Duke and Duchess to date, given the logistical and security considerations.”
