Prince William and Kate meet Bhutan's royal couple
The Associated Press | Posted: April 14, 2016 9:00 PM | Last Updated: April 14, 2016
Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have already visited Mumbai, New Delhi
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge visited Bhutan on Thursday, meeting with the Himalayan nation's popular king and queen with whom they have much in common.
After arriving in a jet on a windy Thursday morning, Prince William and wife Kate checked into their hotel in the capital of Thimpu and later headed to a 13th century royal fortress.
From their vehicle, they were ushered by traditional dancers, flag-bearers, pipers, drummers and Buddhist monks down a 500-metre walkway to meet Bhutan's King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck and Queen Jetsun Pema, who are wildly popular in the nation of 800,000.
'A great message of friendship'
The royal pairs posed for photos in front of a statue of the laughing Buddha before going inside. In the evening, Will and Kate met the Bhutanese royal couple's baby, born in February, and had a private dinner with the king and queen.
The two young couples have much in common. Both were married in 2011, and both Kate and Jetsun Pema did not come from royal families. The Bhutanese queen's father is a pilot, though her mother has royal lineage.
"Two of the world's young royal couples are meeting. It's a great message of friendship to the international community," said Tenzin Lekphell, who heads a management institute in Thimphu.
Will and Kate wield bows and arrows (and darts)
William and Kate later visited an open-air archery venue, where they attempted the traditional game of Khuru, in which players throw large darts at a target about 10 metres away.
Neither managed to score a hit, but they made light of their poor aim in blustery weather that at times ruffled Kate's outfit.
Feeding baby elephants in India
Will and Kate spent several hours at India's Kaziranga National Park on Wednesday in hopes of drawing attention to the plight of endangered animals, including the park's 2,200 rare, one-horned rhinos.
The animals are under threat from wildlife poachers and habitat loss. Already this year, six rhinos have been killed for their horns, after 20 were poached in 2015.
The royals were joined by a park official acting as a guide on a tour across dirt tracks, tall grasslands and thick evergreen forest.
Memorial for victims of 2008 Mumbai attack
William and Kate kicked off their trip to India and Bhutan on Sunday, beginning with a visit to a memorial for the 2008 Mumbai attack victims.
They arrived at the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel in Mumbai, site of the militant attack, and laid a wreath at the memorial in tribute to the 166 people killed.
The royal couple also left a signed handwritten note at the memorial reading, "In memory of those who lost their lives and those injured in the senseless atrocities at the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel."
See work by charities in city slums
The royals visited one of India's city slums to see first hand the work being done by some of the charities in uplifting the lives of the urban poor, as well as the ancient water tank, Banganga, considered one of the holiest places in Mumbai.
They received a traditional welcome, along with performances by some enthusiastic locals.
William and Kate also let loose flowers at Mumbai's Banganga Water Tank.
Indian fans awaited their arrival
Many Indians were excited to meet Will and Kate, including 93-year-old restaurateur Boman Kohinoor, who claims to be the biggest fan of the royal family in India.
On Friday, Will and Kate will hike to Tiger's Nest, a Buddhist monastery in Bhutan, perched at an altitude of 3,000 metres. The couple will return to India on Saturday to wrap up their week-long trip with a visit to the Taj Mahal.