'I was a big fan of my mother too': Prince William's touching reply to school child
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge were visiting a school in Islamabad where he reminisced about his late mother.
Tuesday 15 October 2019 14:02, UK
Prince William shared a touching moment with a 14-year-old student as the pair reminisced about his late mother Princess Diana on the second day of the royal tour of Pakistan.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge were visiting a school in Islamabad where Aima told the duke that the students were "big fans of your mother".
"Oh that's very sweet of you," William replied.
"I was a big fan of my mother too. She came here three times. This is my first time and it is very nice to be here and meet you all."
William and Kate later met Pakistan's prime minister Imran Khan, and they discussed the former test cricketer speaking of his political ambitions more than 20 years ago.
The former international cricketer was a friend of Diana, Princess of Wales Diana, who had taken the young duke to visit him and his then wife, Jemima Goldsmith.
On his younger aspirations of becoming a cricketer, Mr Khan said: "When I went with my mother to see a Test match my cousin was playing and he scored a century and I told my mother I wanted to be a Test cricketer.
"I never realised how difficult it was to eventually become one.
"Similarly, when I told you that I wanted to succeed I didn't realise it would take me 22 years."
The duke replied: "Sure. It's not so easy."
Kate, wearing white trousers by the Pakistani designer Maheen Khan and an emerald green tunic by Catherine Walker, said: "You stuck with it."
The duchess also wore a navy patterned scarf by local designer Satrangi and earrings by Zeen - a Pakistani jeweller whose earrings she has worn in the past.
Diana visited a cancer hospital in Lahore as a guest of Mr Khan and his then wife, Jemima Goldsmith, in May 1997 - just three months before she died.
William and Kate also met President Arif Alvi and first lady Samina Alvi.
Welcoming the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge on their first tour of the country, the 70-year-old president recalled running along Victoria Road in Karachi to catch a glimpse of the Queen during her 1961 state visit.
"It was miraculous to see her," he told William, who spoke of the Prince of Wales's visit to Pakistan in 2006.
The duke will make a speech later at an evening reception hosted by Thomas Drew, the British High Commissioner to Pakistan.
He is expected to say the UK will continue to support the Commonwealth country as a "key partner and friend" during a visit which is aimed at strengthening ties between the two nations.
"We share unique bonds and so it will always be in our best interests for Pakistan to succeed," the duke is expected to say.
"You can always rely on the UK to keep playing an important role as a key partner and friend."