Prince William, Kate depart for UK after completing 5-day tour of Pakistan
The royal couple were seen off at the Nur Khan airbase by British HC Thomas Drew and other officials
ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – The British royal couple, Prince William and Kate Middleton, has left for the United Kingdom (UK) after a successful and historic five-day visit of Pakistan.
Duke and Duchess were seen off at the Nur Khan airbase by British High Commissioner Thomas Drew and other officials.
Prior to their departure, the royal couple visited Army Canine Centre in Islamabad. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge joined dog handlers as they train dogs to recognize and scout out hidden explosive materials, before taking some of the puppies through their paces on an agility training course.
Britain’s Duke and Duchess of Cambridge arrived back in Islamabad Friday after spending an unexpected night in Lahore when thunderstorms forced their pilot to abort two landing attempts in the capital, reporters travelling with them said.
Prince William and his wife Kate ended up staying the night at a hotel in Lahore, Pakistan’s cultural capital, before finally flying back to Islamabad Friday morning, according to British royal correspondents on board their plane.
There has been no statement yet from Kensington Palace on Thursday’s mid-air turmoil, which reportedly saw the Royal Air Force pilot circle for an hour during one of the fierce thunderstorms that periodically hit Islamabad in October, before finally abandoning the attempt and returning to Lahore.
It came after the royals spent a busy day in the eastern city of Lahore, during which they played cricket, visited a children’s orphanage and Shaukat Khanum hospital, and toured the iconic Badshahi Mosque, one of the world’s largest mosques.
Friday was their final day in Pakistan.
A planned trip to the famed Khyber Pass -- one of the two major border crossings in to Afghanistan -- was called off, however.
Kensington Palace had called the trip, the Cambridges’ first official visit to Pakistan, as the royals seek to boost ties between Britain and Pakistan.
They have spent their five-day tour promoting causes such as girls’ education, conservation and climate change awareness.
With input from AFP...
