William, Kate play cricket and tour historic Badshahi Mosque in Lahore
- 17 Oct 2019
Britain's Prince William and his wife Kate explored Pakistan's cultural capital Lahore on Thursday, cracking cricket balls and touring the towering historic Badshahi Mosque, where the Duchess of Cambridge donned a headscarf.
The royal couple kicked off their fourth day in Pakistan with a visit to the SOS Children's Village orphanage, where Kate gave a brief speech along with a short greeting in Urdu and celebrated children's birthdays.
Prince William and Kate visit picture-postcard Chitral
"Earlier this year I talked about the fact that it takes a village to raise a child. The village we've seen here today is the best representation of that ideal that I could have possibly imagined," she said.
The royal couple later took to the crease at the National Cricket Academy, where they both hit a few runs as they played alongside a host of current and former cricket stars, including current bowling coach Waqar Younis.
Prince William Kate visit school before meeting Pakistan PM
After an outfit change, the duo headed to Lahore's famous Badshahi Mosque — one of the world's largest.
William sported a cream-coloured linen suit and Kate donned a light green shalwar kameez, wrapping her hair in a matching headscarf and walking in stockinged feet to show her respect.
William's mother, the late Princess Diana, caused a controversy at the same mosque in 1991 when she wore an above-the-knee dress, sparking a backlash from some Muslim leaders who argued she should have covered up.
Prince William Kate reach Islamabad on 5-day visit
The couple rounded off the trip with a visit to the Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital, founded by Prime Minister Imran Khan, where Diana is remembered fondly for helping raise money for the facility in the 1990s.
Kensington Palace has called the Cambridges' five-day trip, which ends on Friday, their "most complex" tour to date as the royals seek to boost ties between the UK and the second largest country in the Commonwealth.
Prince William and Kate have spent much of the trip promoting various causes, from girls' education to conservation and climate change awareness as they criss-crossed the country.
Security has improved dramatically since the army intensified a crackdown on militant groups in 2015, with several countries changing their travel warnings for Pakistan as a result, and Islamabad eager to promote both tourism and foreign investment.
There are promising signs, such as the British Airways return earlier this year after more than a decade, and the slow but steady revival of international cricket.
Agence France-Presse