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Prince & Princess of Wales

Royals Arrive in India for a Historic Visit

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have landed in Mumbai for a historic seven-day tour of India and Bhutan.

William and Kate arrived at the airport on an overnight flight, before heading straight off to the Taj Mahal Palace hotel.

The Duchess wore an Alexander McQueen dress, which blended traditional Indian colours with British couture, while William opted for a navy blue suit.

In a sign of solidarity, the royal couple laid wreath in memory of the victims who died in the 2008 terror attack on the hotel. Their message at the memorial read: ‘’In memory of those who lost their lives and those injured in the senseless atrocities at the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel.’’

The first of many engagement on the first day was a visit to the Oval Maiden, a large Grade I recreational ground south of the city, to watch some of the city’s thousands of street children play cricket. They also met with representatives from charities helping those children.

The fresh-looking couple were later treated to an open-bus tour of Mumbai with local children from one of the NGOs.

Later in the day, the Cambridges will attend a gala dinner hosted by the British High Commission and the British Asian Trust. Prominent business figures and Bollywood starts, such as Shah Rukh Khan and Rishi Kappor will take part in the event, which aims to raise money for charity work.

In total, Their Royal Highnesses will take part in 22 engagements in both countries, with a tour around the Taj Mahal particularly expected to spark fond memories of the late Princess Diana, who visited the country with Prince Charles in 1992.

This is the first time the Duke and Duchess embark on a trip to the region. It comes more than 100 years after the first visit by British royals to India. In 1905, Prince George of Wales (later King George V) and his wife Princess Mary arrived for the most extensive visit by members of the royal family.