Kate Joining William Is Important as India Trip Adds Modi Meeting
The Prince and Princess of Wales are due in Mumbai for William's Earthshot Prize. It is their first joint overseas engagement since Kate's cancer diagnosis, and the itinerary now includes a meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi.
The Prince and Princess of Wales are due in Mumbai for a visit built around William's Earthshot Prize, and Kate joining William is important because it is their first joint engagement overseas since her cancer diagnosis.
The plans have grown. The couple had intended to visit only Mumbai, on India's west coast. They will now also travel to the capital, New Delhi, to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
A late change to the itinerary
Modi confirmed he could see them after he returns to India from the Philippines, where he is attending the ASEAN summit, a gathering of south-east Asian nations.
A Kensington Palace spokesperson described the Delhi meeting as a "fitting conclusion" to the visit. The spokesperson said it showed the role the couple can play in strengthening ties between the UK and India "at the highest level".
The spokesperson added that for William, it "also represents another significant engagement as he continues to take on a growing role on the international stage".
Why Mumbai, and why now
The visit centers on the Earthshot Prize, William's global environmental competition. This is the first time the event has been held in South Asia.
Since its launch, the prize has been staged in nearly every continent over six years. India adds a new region to that list.
The couple will begin their time in Mumbai with a game of gully cricket, also known as street cricket. They will play with one of India's most famous sporting legends, whom palace sources refer to as "cricketing royalty".
Return to royal tours
For Kate, the trip is a return to the overseas calendar after her cancer diagnosis. She and William are traveling together in a joint capacity for the first time since then.
The Delhi meeting is also a reunion of sorts. The couple last met Modi in 2016, when they visited India as the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.
Both visits are tied to William's expanding international profile. His office says that as he moves closer to the throne, he is "conscious of the responsibility that comes with his position".
The couple arrive in Mumbai at the start of the trip. They will then fly to New Delhi once Modi is back from the ASEAN summit in the Philippines.
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