Kate Middleton and Prince William to see Mumbai and Delhi during royal visit to India and Bhutan

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are due to visit India from 10 to 16 April, Kensington Palace has confirmed. The visit will mark the first time that Prince William and Kate Middleton have been to the country, with a tour of the Taj Mahal featuring on their itinerary.

The royal couple are due to begin their visit in the financial capital of India, Mumbai, on 10 April. They are then expected to travel to New Delhi, following which they will pay a visit to Kaziranga National Park. On 14 April they are expected to visit Thimphu in Bhutan, before returning to India to travel to the city of Agra in Rajasthan, where they will visit the iconic Taj Mahal monument.

A Kensington Palace spokesperson said: "The Duke and Duchess are very much looking forward to their tours of India and Bhutan. Their visit to India will be an introduction to a country that they plan to build an enduring relationship with. They will pay tribute to India's proud history, but also are keen to understand the hopes and aspirations of young Indian people and the major role they will play in shaping the 21<sup>st century."

Kensington Palace added that the visit is being undertaken at the request of Her Majesty's Government and is due to focus on young people, sport, entrepreneurship, Indian efforts to relieve urban poverty, creative arts, and rural life. At Kaziranga National Park the Duke and Duchess will interact with the rich variety of wildlife, as well as pay tribute to the rural traditions of communities living around the park.

Upon visiting the Unesco World Heritage site the Taj Mahal on 16 April, Prince William and Princess Kate are expected to "thank the people of India for their hospitality" on their final day of the trip. The visit comes shortly before the Queen's 90<sup>th birthday and is designed to allow the Royal couple to "pay tribute to Her Majesty's huge contribution to diplomacy in Britain and the Commonwealth".

The full itinerary of the India and Bhutan trip is expected to be published closer to the date of their visit, however, the Duke and Duchess are expected to be in the following places on the corresponding days:

• Mumbai (10/11 April)
• New Delhi (11/12 April)
• Kaziranga (12/13 April)
• Agra (16 April)