Yahoo News Prince William and Kate Middleton land in Pakistan for historic five-day royal tour
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have touched down in Pakistan for the start of their historic five-day tour of the Islamic country.
Prince William and his wife Catherine arrived by RAF Voyager A330 - the UK's version of the US’s Presidential jet “Air Force One“ - at Pakistan‘s secure Air Force base Bazd Nur Khan.
The royal couple, who are on overseas tour without their three children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louie, are in Pakistan at the behest of the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office after the country’s president extended an invitation to the couple.
The voyager RAF plane is for use by The Monarch, The Heir to the Throne, The Prince of Wales, and the Prime Minister as well as The Duke of Cambridge, using it for the second occasion, when overseas on official business representing Her Majesty’s Government.
The Queen no longer takes part in long-haul overseas visits.
The reason William and Catherine are in the country is to cement the diplomatic relationship between Pakistan and Britain, which has an estimated 1.5 million subjects with Pakistani origin and family ties living in the UK.
Informed sources said the important visit by the second in line to the throne and his wife comes as a crucial time for the UK and Pakistan relations diplomatically, economically and strategically.
With the Brexit deadline of October 31, set by Prime Minister Boris Johnson, fast approaching - the uniqueness of the relationship between Britain and Pakistan is understood to be seen as very important to the new Conservative Government.
It is understood the visit will demonstrate that there are other very important relationships with Commonwealth countries - outside the European Union and other those associated with Brexit.
Many feel a royal visit of this nature will enhance Britain’s already good relationship in terms of trade and aid at a time many in Government feel it is time to move on from the Brexit date, more than three years after the referendum.
Others, however, have suggested that Pakistan does not rank relations with the UK as highly as those with China and Russia which it sees as much more important.
The last official royal visit to Pakistan was by the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall in 2006.
The Queen made a state visit in 1997 just months after the death of Diana, Princess of Wales.
Diana also visited Pakistan privately shortly before her tragic death in a car crash in the Alma Tunnel, Paris along with her boyfriend Dodi Fayed and the driver Henri Paul.
She also made her first solo visit to Pakistan in 1991 when she went to view the Khyber Pass on the border with Afghanistan.
Security for the visit is expected to be extremely tight.
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