William and Kate in India: From the slumdogs to the millionaires

Duke and Duchess of Cambridge start one-week tour of India meeting all sectors of society in Mumbai

MUMBAI, INDIA - APRIL 10:Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge plays cricket during a visit to meet children from Magic Bus, Childline and Doorstep, three non-governmental organizations, at Mumbai'
The Duchess of Cambridge plays cricket in Mumbai
(Image credit: 2016 Getty Images)

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge began a one-week tour of India yesterday, striking a "fine balance between witnessing the poverty that scars the country and glorying in its wealth and glamour", says The Times.

The royal couple met both "the slumdogs and the millionaires" in Mumbai, adds the paper.

Dubbing Kate the "Duchess of Style", the Hindustan Times says her choice of outfit for her first morning in the country got the "thumbs-up from the fashion fraternity".

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She didn't wear an Indian designer – the Duchess actually opted for Alexander McQueen - but it was an "India-inspired paisley prints with peplum detailing" and a "strong [Indian] heritage vibe".

After laying a wreath in memory of the 2008 terror attack victims, Kate and Prince William played cricket with sporting legend Sachin Tendulkar and a group of children from a city slum.

Later that night, there was a gala dinner attended by Bollywood stars. The Duke and Duchess enjoyed "a special four-course dinner" which included "ajwani macchli, paneer shahi korma, chonka palak, lucknowi biryani". For desert, there was "dodha with rabdi, Chenna payesh and Sharifa kulfi".

This morning, they met aspiring entrepreneurs at a British government project called the Great campaign, which promotes the UK worldwide.

Later today, the royals will follow in Mahatma Gandhi's final footsteps as they visit New Delhi, says Sky News, walking from his "humble bedroom" to the garden where he was assassinated in 1948.

They will also visit India Gate, the country's main war memorial, and attend a garden party in honour of the Queen's 90th birthday at the British High Commission.

William and Kate warned of terror threat to India trip

07 April

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge travel to India this weekend for an official visit, just as Indian police are hunting suspected Pakistani terrorists they fear may target the areas the royal couple will visit.

The royal couple are to visit Mumbai and Delhi, among other places, and both cities are on the list of potential hit sites for an armed gang of four extremists believed to have crossed the border from Pakistan.

The men – three Pakistanis and an Indian – are said to be on the run in a stolen car, armed with guns, explosives and a suicide vest. A police spokesman said Mumbai, Delhi and Goa were potential targets.

An Indian security source said: "We are not taking this threat lightly. We cannot rule out attacks."

John O'Connor, a former head of the Metropolitan Police's Flying Squad, told The Sun: "They need to cancel the visit. It's not worth the risk.

"If there was an attack, even close to the royals, it would been seen as a major coup for IS [Islamic State] and co. The royals need to stay away from any hot spots."

An unnamed source told the paper: "The Indian security services are not a patch on the UK's but they'll be the ones responsible for protecting the royals. It's also unlikely that the Met royal protection officers will be armed, so they'll be totally reliant on local security."

In a further link to terrorism, the royal couple have chosen to stay in Mumbai's iconic Taj Mahal Palace hotel, one of the scenes of the 2008 terror attacks in which 164 people were killed by Islamist militants.

Staying there is being seen as a "show of solidarity with the victims of the 26/11 terror attacks", says the Hindustan Times, which also coins the portmanteau name "Will-Kat" to describe the pair.

The couple, who are also visiting Bhutan on this trip, held a reception at Kensington Palace yesterday for young people from Bhutan or India living, working or studying in the UK.

Kate was praised for her outfit for the occasion: an elegant dark blue gown by London-based Indian designer Saloni.

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