It was bound to happen and yesterday in Panbari village on the border of the Kaziranga National Park, in faraway Assam, India, the Duchess of Cambridge admitted that the sight of the village’s little girls dancing made her sad and miss her daughter Princess Charlotte.
George was also on her mind and when the village elders sneakily asked why the royal couple hadn’t brought their children, Kate replied: “Because George is too naughty. He would be running all over the place. The next time we come we will definitely bring them.”
It is the first time the Duchess, 34, has been apart from her children for a prolonged period and since she and William have been here much of their time has been spent meeting India’s youngsters.
A sign erected at the entrance to this 1800 strong community read: “Welcome the Hon’ble Prince & Princess of UK to World Heritage Place Kaziranga and Panbari Village Thanks”.
Several hundred had villagers turned out for a glimpse of the couple, some wearing traditional Indian robes, others dressed in western clothes and taking pictures with their smart phones.
William and Kate, who was wearing a pink floral Topshop dress with black embroidery and her hair tied back in an elaborate bun, were met by “Headman” Dhurba Krishna Das, 32, who placed traditional white woven scarfs with red embroidery, called “gamchas” around their necks, as is customary in this region of Assam.
They were then led into the central building, which with its corrugated iron roof also doubles up as the village’s place of worship.
The couple were offered a bench to sit on as they took off their shoes – black wedges in Kate’s case and lace up beige suede shoes in William’s, before entering the humble prayer hall, where they sat on mats weaved from bamboo by local women, surrounded by villagers of all ages in traditional dress, including several young children and a suckling baby.
The scent of joss sticks filled the air as the elders told them how the community came to be living in such close proximity to the local elephant and rhino population in Kaziranga Park.
Sitting cross-legged, William asked: “How do the local people view the elephants and rhinos, are they considered sacred?” They were told the villagers “love” the elephants because they are happy to live alongside them and that sometimes they wander into the village.
The couple then met with members of the local community and were treated to a traditional dance performance, featuring a drummer band.
Next they went to a typical home and tea plantation nearby. At the house, which featured mud-daubed walls, they were greeted reverentially by Tilasha Das, 30, and his wife Utala, 25 who knelt down and touched the couple’s feet before they entered the premises.
Along with their daughters Anamika, eight, and Kumkum, five, and surrounded by extended family, neighbours and a pet black baby goat, they chatted to the Royal couple about life in the village and selling “char” at the local market. On their two small plantations, the Das family produce up to 60kg of tea a year.
The couple were then taken on a quick tour of the plantation by Mrs Das’s cousin Morami, 31, who heartily embraced the Duchess. “I hugged her because I love her. I think she’s very very pretty. She acts like a simple girl, not a princess,” said Morami afterwards.
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