Will and Kate kick off their tour in Pakistan

Royal work is never done.
October 15, 2019 12:31 p.m. EST
October 18, 2019 11:28 a.m. EST
1181151239
It's a busy time for the younger members of the British Royal Family. Less than two weeks after Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan returned from their tour of South Africa, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have embarked on a five-day visit to Pakistan.Prince William and Duchess Kate arrived in Islamabad on Monday and the following day, set about on a series of engagements around the country. Similar to the big topics the Sussexes tackled, Will and Kate will also focus on the environment and conservation and women's empowerment, all while taking in Pakistan's arts and culture scene. The visit is meant to pay homage to Britain's and Pakistan's historic relationship and the "unique bond" the countries share. Unlike Harry and Meghan, however, the Cambridges have made it an adults-only work trip, travelling without their children, George, Charlotte and Louis.In what marks Will and Kate's first official visit to the country, they will "largely focus on showcasing Pakistan as it is today — a dynamic, aspirational and forward-looking nation," according to the caption on the couple's first Instagram post from the trip. Upon arrival, the royals were greeted by Pakistan foreign minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi.Kate paired her blue ombre dress with some slim pants underneath — which bore a striking resemblance to what Princess Diana wore during her visit to the country in 1996. While Diana opted for a scarf and flats, the cowl neck on Kate's dress gave it a similar effect. Her nude pumps don't necessarily go but Kate always finds a way to make it work.
 
View this post on Instagram
 

A post shared by Willkateharrymeghanpersia (@willkateharrypersia) on

For their first full day of engagements, the couple hit Islamabad to spotlight the importance of education, particularly for girls who benefit from higher education and the workforce. But Diana was never far from anyone's mind. While speaking to teenagers at Islamabad Model College for Girls, one young woman spoke about her admiration for the late princess and and how they were "big fans" of her, and according to People, William smiled and said, "You were, really? Oh, that's very sweet of you. I was a big fan of my mother too." Sigh. Weren't we all?Will and Kate then met up with children from local schools to take part in activities that focus on environmental protection and wildlife conservation.
 
View this post on Instagram
 

On the first full day of their visit to Pakistan, The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s first engagements in Islamabad championed the importance of quality education, and highlighted how girls benefit from pursuing higher education and professional careers. At Islamabad Model College for Girls, The Duke and Duchess heard how students are benefiting from the ‘Teach for Pakistan’ programme. @TeachforPakistan is a fast-track training programme modelled on the successful @TeachFirstUK scheme, which is focused on improving the quality of teaching in schools which serve families from disadvantaged backgrounds. Carrying on the theme of education, The Duke and Duchess visited the Margalla Hills, which sit in the foothills of the Himalayas. There, they joined children from four local schools for activities taking part in activities designed to educate young people on environmental protection and wildlife conservation. This included helping the children identify and remove species of plants that are threatening the natural environment, bird watching, and storytelling on local environment issues. ? Kensington Palace #RoyalVisitPakistan #Pakistan

A post shared by Kensington Palace (@kensingtonroyal) on

Earlier, William and Kate met with the President of Pakistan, Dr. Arif Alvi. But perhaps their most poignant visit of the day was with Diana's close friend, Prime Minister Imran Khan. William and Kate caught up with the former cricket player-turned-politician at his official residence — which is where he hosted Diana during her trip in 1997, mere months before her tragic death. The royals rounded out Day 2 with a reception at Islamabad's National Monument, where they took in the best of Pakistani music and culture. In terms of style, Kate opted for glam while Will went traditional — and both work beautifully. According to Hello!, guests included figures from the country's music and film industry and creative arts, as well as those from the worlds of business and politics. Royals and celebs? Yes, please.[caption id="attachment_4547108" align="alignleft" width="960"] Getty Images[/caption]

You might also like