The Duke and Duchess traveled to Lahore for another jammed packed day of engagements.
BIRTHDAY PARTY: William and Catherine were greeted at the Lahore Airport by Punjab Governor Chaudhry Muhammad Sarwar, Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar and their families, before heading to the SOS Children’s Villages where they helped celebrate the birthdays of three of the children.
The SOS Children’s Village serves as a home for orphan and underprivileged children. Each Village consists of 15 house units, and each house unit can accommodate up to 10 children. The house is run by a ‘mother’ who looks after the children. The organization provides children with loving care, security, higher education and job-training.
The Duchess gave her first speech during the tour at the party, speaking in Urdu in her opening, the Duchess said: “Assalam O Alaikum,” she said. “Iman, Ibrahim aur Daniyal apni salgirah pur bulanay ka bohat shukria.” (Translation: “Hello. Peace be upon you. Iman, Ibrahim and Daniyal, thank you for inviting us to your birthday celebration.)
Being here in Pakistan this week, William and I have seen on several occasions how family is at the heart of your culture. Parents, children, aunts, uncles, grandparents all play important roles – you have reminded us exactly what family means. You have shown us too that it is not simply a term that describes the relationship between blood relatives.
Instead it describes those special bonds we share with those who make us feel safe and supported. It is the quality of those relationships that matters. Earlier this year I talked about the fact that it takes a village to raise a child. The village we have seen here today is the best representation of that ideal that I could have possibly imagined. Together as a village you are transforming children’s lives and providing them with strong foundations to support all their families.
You have created a home, where children are given the love, protection, and support that will enable them to have a fairer chance in life. Here, women who were once vulnerable, now play the most vital of roles as mothers and it is most heartening to see that you are not doing this alone.”
NATIONAL CRICKET ACADEMY: Next, William and Catherine visited the National Cricket Academy where they both joined in on a match with children who are participating in the British Council’s DOSTI program. The DOSTI aims to create a difference by breaking social barriers and promoting community cohesion by making sports an integral part of the social life of youth in Karachi.
The Project facilitates youth development in select locations in Karachi by working through schools, local sports clubs, civil society partners and other stakeholders to engage both in-school and out of school youth in activities that promote intergroup understanding and interaction. The programme uses national and local resources as well as UK expertise to build capacity of partners and participants.
BADSHAHI MOSQUE: Then, The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge visited the Badshahi Mosque, the most iconic Islamic site in Lahore, set in the heart of the Walled City. The couple toured the mosque and courtyard, before joining a discussion with faith leaders to learn how they are promoting interfaith harmony within their communities.
TEA PARTY: William and Catherine’s last engagement today had a little extra meaning as they visited the Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital, a state-of-the-art cancer facility located in the centre of Lahore. The couple visited the children’s ward of the hospital to spend time with patients undergoing treatment, and to speak to their families. In 1996 and 1997 William’s mother, Diana, Princess of Wales the facility. In the cutest moment of the tour The Duke and Duchess joined seven-year-old Wafia Rehmani for a tea party. Catherine donned a tiara and William “drank” from her little pink cup.
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Engagements & Tour Photos > 2019 > Pakistan Tour > Pakistan Tour – Day 4 – Set 1
Engagements & Tour Photos > 2019 > Pakistan Tour > Pakistan Tour – Day 4 – Set 2
