Duchess Catherine has paid a subtle tribute to her late mother-in-law Princess Diana during the second day of her royal tour of Pakistan with Prince William.
The 37-year-old wore a gorgeous purple kurta, the traditional outfit worn by women and men in many south-Asian countries, including Pakistan, and Kate’s look bears a striking resemblance to a very similar outfit Diana wore during her final visit to Pakistan in 1997, just months before her tragic death.
Kate’s kurta was made by local designer Maheen Khan, which the Duchess teamed with £23.99 ($AU44) tan suede low-block heeled shoes from British high street retailer New Look.
Princess Diana had a strong connection to Pakistan. She had a two-year relationship with British-Pakistani surgeon Hasnat Khan, a distant cousin of the country’s now Prime Minister Imran Khan, who Kate and William will meet with during their official visit.
Much of Diana’s charitable work focused on Pakistan. She travelled to the country several times to visit its children’s cancer wards and was frequently photographed with some of the country’s youngest citizens curled up in her lap.
The Cambridges are choosing to highlight issues of education and conservation on this five-day tour, so it’s wonderful to see Kate and William continuing Diana’s significant efforts in the country.
Kate wore a kurta by local designer Maheen Khan.
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Diana wore a very similar purple outfit during her final visit to Pakistan in 1997.
(Credit: Getty)On Day 2 of their royal tour, Kate and William spent time highlighting the importance of education for girls by visiting at a local school in Islamad, where they spoke to several students.
Later, they will also visit the Margallah Hills National Park, where they will help set up a leopard camera trap.
Then, the couple will meet with Pakistan’s President Arif Alvi and Prime Minister and former cricket star Imran Khan, before attending a glittering evening reception hosted by British High Commissioner Tom Drew at the National Monument in Islamabad.
The couple are travelling with quite the entourage.
As well as their private secretaries and their communications secretary, there are a further four members of the communication team, two assistant private secretaries, two programme coordinators, a PA, and orderly and a hairdresser accompanying them on the trip, according to HELLO!
READ NEXT: The subtle way Duchess Catherine is channelling Princess Diana’s style in Pakistan
Kate and William shared a sweet moment together as they began their second day in Pakistan.
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Kate is travelling with a hairdresser on this tour, but no makeup artist.
(Credit: Getty)
Kate spoke to young women at a school in Islamabad.
(Credit: Getty)If you’re wondering why the Cambridge children Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis aren’t travelling with their parents on this official tour, it turns out there’s a very reasonable explanation.
Security concerns are at an all-time high for the royals in the foreign country, with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office website also reiterating that tourists should avoid travelling to certain areas there unless absolutely necessary.
Threats of terrorist attacks and kidnapping in these locations are high, and a recent earthquake has also heightened security risks.
It is for this reason that one could understand why Kate and William decided to leave their young children at home during the royal tour.
WATCH BELOW: Prince William and Duchess Catherine hold hands at Kensington Palace. Story continues after video.
There’s also another, rather practical reason as to why George and Charlotte are staying put in London while their parents travel – school.
The adorable siblings are currently in the middle of their school term at Thomas’s Battersea, and they’re no doubt firmly settled into their school routines after the year kicked off at the start of September.
It’s expected that the family’s nanny Maria Teresa Turrion Borrallo will be stepping in to look after the royal children, along with their grandparents Carole and Michael Middleton.
