On the 14th October 2019 the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge began their tour of Pakistan. The trip was made, as are most royal tours, at the request of the Foreign Office. The couple’s communication secretary said, ahead of the trip, "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 UK's links with Pakistan are extensive, and Their Royal Highnesses are looking forward to building a lasting friendship with the people of Pakistan." I believe the Duke and Duchess were more that ready for this, “most complex tour,” that they have taken, to date. The Cambridge’s have shown that they are reliable, professional, and adept at their jobs. They create the right balance between personal touches, professional etiquette, diplomatic measures, and supporting charities. This was the first visit to Pakistan by a royal family member in 13 years. The last visit was by the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall in 2006.
Something that one could not help but notice on this trip was the fashion choices of the Duchess. All of her outfits were in the traditional Pakistani style of dress. I think this was an excellent move, as it helped remove any cultural barriers between the couple and their hosts, so that they could get on with the task in hand; notably promoting good relations between the UK and Pakistan. The Duke also dressed in traditional clothing during the trip.
The couple arrived by plane in Pakistan, at an airbase near the capital city of Islamabad. The Duchess wore a long tunic with trousers underneath, reminiscent of the traditional shalwar kameez (or salwar kameez). They were greeted by Pakistan’s foreign minister, Shah Mehmood Qureshi, and his wife, and a Pakistani Honour Guard, and received flowers from young children. The focus of this trip was on looking at the history of both Pakistan and the UK, and their shared relationship, but also looking at the present day Pakistan. A statement released said they, “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.” Major focuses were education, the country’s response to climate change, and, “understanding the complex security picture in Pakistan.”
On the second day of their trip, the couple attended engagements in Islamabad. They visited Islamabad Model College for Girls, they heard about how students are being helped by the, ‘Teach for Pakistan,’ programme. Modelled on the UK’s Teach First scheme, the programme fast tracks teacher training to allow schools in deprived areas to deliver top quality education.
The couple then visited the Margalla Hills, in the foothills of the Himalayas, to join in activities for primary school children that help teach them about wildlife conservation and environmental protection. The couple were joined by pupils from four local schools. The activities they joined in with included storytelling about environmental issues, bird watching, and identifying and removing plant species that are a threat to the local environment. The couple had plenty of opportunity to talk to the children at these 2 engagements, and promote awareness of mental health, arguably their biggest campaign and charitable endeavour. At one point, a girl asked the Duke what, as a child, he had wanted to be when he grew up. The Duke said, “Actually I changed a lot as I got older but I always wanted to learn to fly. I was flying for a while actually. I love flying, I feel very free, I like learning a skill, I enjoy that. I can relate the science of what you do.” The designer of the Duchess’s outfit for this second day of the tour, Maheen Khan, said she kept, “the Pakistani silhouette like kurta, trousers and dupatta,” and gave it a classical, elegant finish for the Duchess, in Periwinkle blue.
Later on, the couple met the Prime Minister of Pakistan, Imran Khan, and the President, Arif Alvi, and his wife, and stayed for lunch. The Duke has previously met Mr Khan, when Mr Khan used to be a cricket player. The late Diana, Princess of Wales, and the young Prince William met a young Mr Khan at a gathering in Richmond-upon-Thames in 1996. Mr Khan announced then that his ambition was to be the Prime Minister of Pakistan. In July 2018 he was elected. When the Duke reminded Mr Khan of their former meeting, the latter said, “When I went with my mother to see a Test match my cousin was playing and he scored a century and I told my mother I wanted to be a Test cricketer. I never realised how difficult it was to eventually become one. Similarly, when I told you that I wanted to succeed I didn't realise it would take me 22 years.” They spoke about some of the destinations the Cambridge’s would be visiting, but only when the cameras weren’t present; for security reasons details of the trip were not released in advance. The Cambridge’s exchanged gifts with the President and his wife, and spoke about the Prince of Wales’s 2006 trip.
The Duchess wore a Catherine Walker green shirt coat, white trousers by Maheen Khan, and a scarf by Satrangi, for the meeting. Many have said that the Duchess’s wardrobe for this trip was reminiscent of outfits worn by the late Diana, Princess of Wales, on her trips to Pakistan. But I am inclined to think this is coincidence, or at least, not done on purpose. Both women chose to wore clothes that were in the traditional Pakistani style, so there were going to be similarities. They share dark hair, so colours that suit them will be similar too. There will always be comparison’s between Diana and her two daughters-in-law, but I think the similarities here were not done on purpose. To confirm my thoughts, the designer Ms Khan said, "I didn't even see the clothes Princess Diana wore on her visit to Pakistan. This is all just a coincidence. I just thought about what would suit Kate."
That evening they attended a reception, at the Pakistan national monument, arriving by rickshaw! They seemed to enjoy this traditional method of transport, although it did cause some controversy, as automatic rickshaw’s are actually banned in the capital, and an exception was made for the couple. Personally, I don’t think exception’s of this sort should be made for the couple, as it is not for security reasons, it’s not actually that important whether they ride in a rickshaw or not, and actually, it has caused a negative response, rather than the positive one of promoting Pakistani culture, that was intended.
The Duchess wore a dark green dress by Jenny Packham that looked very elegant, and the Duke wore a traditional long sherwani buttoned coat and matching trousers, also in dark green. Dark green is Pakistan’s national colour. The reception was hosted by the British High Commission, and the Duke gave a keynote speech, highlighting the UK’s support of Pakistan’s work on the frontline against terrorism. He also spoke about the challenge posed to Pakistan by it’s growing population and climate change, saying, "The challenges ahead are great. But we cannot be daunted, nor distracted. Instead we should draw strength from our shared bonds and heed the words of Muhammed Ali Jinnah as we do so, “My message to you all” he said “is of hope, courage, and confidence.” William praised the country’s progress since it gained independence, "Delivering a future where Pakistan’s great potential can be realised will not be easy or without sacrifice. For a country so young, Pakistan has endured many hardships, with countless lives lost to terror and hatred. Tonight I want to pay tribute to all those who have endured such sacrifice and helped to build the country that we see today.”
The Duke also acknowledged the effect of climate change on the mountain glaciers that provide water for many Pakistani’s, “Ladies and gentlemen, given the scale and complexities of the challenges that future generations will face, it is clear that we all need to work together. And whether it’s this generation or the next, I know that the UK and Pakistan will continue to exemplify the very best in international cooperation.” During the reception, the Cambridge’s met people from business, the creative arts, the Pakistan music and film industry, and members of Government.
Day three began with the couple arriving in Northern Pakistan. They were greeted with traditional shawls and headdresses from the Chitrali Scouts. Meeting a settlement of the Kalash people at Chitral, they learnt about the heritage, traditions, and culture of the Kalash community. In the village square the couple met children and young people to learn how the Kalash tribe coexist with the other communities in the region. The Duchess joined in with local dancing, and they were entertained by two young girls who sang for them, and who have their own YouTube channel. The Duchess learned how to say, “Thank You,” in Kalash after chatting to the dancers through her Kalash-interpreter.
The Duchess had her own camera with her, and took photos of a lady, Liba, and her family, in their brightly coloured clothing. The Duchess is a keen amateur photographer, and often takes her own photos of her family that are released officially for occasions such as their birthdays. I have to say that the Duchess having her own camera reminds me of the Queen, who often had a cine camera with her in her younger years, to record her trips abroad, as well as private occasions. Bad flooding in 2015 left villagers with damaged crops and homes, and their livestock dead. Later on, the couple met an emergency response team, now funded by the UK, that helped prevent greater loss in the 2015 disaster. One of the members of the team was named Diana, as she was born around the time of the late Princess of Wales’s visit in 1991. She then named her son William, after Prince William! The couple watched a search and rescue demonstration, of carrying an injured victim across a river.
The couple were shown how, due to global warming, ice has rapidly retreated, at the Chiatibo Glacier in Broghil National Park. The Duke said that communities, “vulnerable to change” needed “more education, more awareness and political action. The young are starting to get engaged in it. “ During the on-camera interview, he continued, saying that, “positive conversation,” was needed. “Catherine and I felt it was very important to come to Pakistan and see the different range of environments there are and, and really try and get a feel of the country. But also to use our voice and lend our position and our visit to kind of talk about issues like climate change, issues about the environment. We've seen all around the world now, the young are getting very engaged in what's going on.” It seems that on-camera interviews during royal tours are a new thing. The Sussex’s engaged in one during their very recent trip to parts of Southern Africa. I hope these prove a good thing, and a positive way of helping the royals to do their work of diplomacy, promoting harmonious relations across borders, and raising awareness of important issues and charitable work. Later on in the video, William said, "And I think it's fantastic that we can all come together and really have a very good conversation about what we need to do, and that action needs to happen very soon. A lot of people rely on this and if we take too long about this we will lose many of the precious things we care about."
The Duke was teased by his wife that he had some knowledge of these environmental issues, because of his degree in Geography. Indeed, this was mentioned by expert Dr Furrukh Bashir, during the engagement. The Duchess wore flat knee-high brown boots to navigate the mountain terrain, with a dark coloured shirt under a leather vest, and a long taupe-coloured skirt.
On day four, the couple saw the work being done by SOS Children’s Villages, that provides structure in the homes and families of young boys and girls in Lahore, helping them develop into happy, healthy, and confident adults. The couple attended a birthday party of three young people who live in the village. The Cambridge’s used finger puppets to take part in a storytelling session.
The Duchess gave a speech, on the themes of motherhood and child development, two focus areas of her work. She said, "I’m aware that many of you have experienced extremely difficult times in your lives. But it is inspiring to see how you have used your strength and positivity to help transform the lives of so many young children here. Being here in Pakistan this week, William and I have seen on several occasions how family is at the heart of your culture. Parents, children, aunts, uncles, grandparents all play important roles – you have reminded us exactly what family means. You have shown us too that it is not simply a term that describes the relationship between blood relatives. Instead it describes those special bonds we share with those who make us feel safe and supported. It is the quality of those relationships that matters. Earlier this year I talked about the fact that it takes a village to raise a child. The village we have seen here today is the best representation of that ideal that I could have possibly imagined. Together as a village you are transforming children’s lives and providing them with strong foundations to support all their families. You have created a home, where children are given the love, protection, and support that will enable them to have a fairer chance in life. Here, women who were once vulnerable, now play the most vital of roles as mothers and it is most heartening to see that you are not doing this alone."
The Duchess began her speech in the national language of Pakistan, Urdu, saying, "Assalam O Alaikum. Emaan, Ibrahim, aur Daniyal, apni salgirah pur bulanay ka bohat shukria." That roughly translates to, “Hello. Peace be upon you. Iman, Ibrahim, and Daniyal, thank you for inviting us to your birthday celebration."
After the engagement, the Duchess gave her first ever TV interview, speaking to CNN with the Duke next to her. Catherine said, "It was amazing seeing some of the geography yesterday, but then to see some of the community activities today has been really special. William and I really wanted to come and see an SOS Children's Village like this. There's so many vulnerable women here but they've really used their positivity and the support that the Village here provides them, to support and protect the next generation of children in their care and give them the best possible start to their future lives." I think it is great that the Duchess is taking on these challenges, such as TV interviews, and did a fantastic job, maintaining a professional yet personal approach.
Later on, the couple visited the National Cricket Academy in Lahore. The Duke and Duchess took part in a cricket match with children who benefit from the British Council’s Dosti programme. Dosti means friendship in Urdu. The programme uses sport to help children with social integration, increased self-esteem, and the development of important life skills. Pakistani cricket stars of the present and future for the match.
On this penultimate day of the tour, the couple then visited a Mosque. The Badshahi Mosque is in the Walled City, and is the most iconic Islamic site in Lahore. The Duke and Duchess toured the mosque and courtyard, and then partook in an interfaith discussion. Faith leaders that attended the discussion explained how they are working to create harmony across their communities. Both the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall in 2006, and the Queen in 1961, visited the Badshahi Mosque. The Duchess wore a turquoise blue and gold outfit, with a matching headscarf, for the visit. Both the Duke and Duchess followed custom and removed their shoes in the mosque.
The couple visited a children’s ward at the Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital, previously visited by Diana, Princess of Wales, in 1991. The specialist cancer hospital with state-of-the-art facilities is located in Lahore. The couple spent time with patients undergoing treatment, and spoke to their families. They met seven year old Wafia, a patient, and both Wafia and the Duchess wore tiaras as all three of them pretended to have a tea party.
The Cambridge’s flight to Islamabad that evening was diverted as it hit an electrical storm. The Duchess later said, "I think it was quite an adventure really, it was pretty bumpy up there. But we were looked after so wonderfully by the RAF who did a great job liaising with everyone and got us home safely, so we are hugely grateful to them." The couple also joked that it had been the Duke who was piloting! But it wasn’t. The couple stayed at the Pearl Continental Hotel in the capital of Punjab overnight following two aborted landings by the RAF Voyager pilot. A visit to a military post in the Khyber Pass, on the border of Afghanistan, had to be cancelled due to the lack of time.
The couple visited an army dog training centre, and got to walk two Golden Labrador puppies. The centre is modelled on the UK military's Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire, and is newly opened. The couple toured the centre and watched training sessions. Speaking of the importance of UK-Pakistan ties, the Duke said, "The whole week we have been hearing about security in Pakistan and it's really brought home to Catherine and I the importance of the relationship between the UK and Pakistan." Acknowledging the many who had lost their lives in securing parts of Pakistan, he said, "Those sacrifices from the Pakistanis should be acknowledged. Actually what happens here in Pakistan directly correlates to what happens on the streets of the UK. We are involved with the Pakistanis for a very good reason, it will actually keep people safe back in the UK."
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge then left Pakistan and returned to the UK. Overall, they had a highly successful trip, navigating everything with professionalism, genuine personal interest, and poise. They definitely managed this most difficult trip to date. I think the Queen must be proud of them. Like Her Majesty, we have come to expect nothing less than a job well done from the Cambridge’s, with them taking everything in their stride.