Mumbai set to welcome Prince William and Kate Middleton

Britain’s royal couple Prince William and Kate Middleton are arriving on their first visit to India on Sunday. The royal couple will be given a starry reception on their arrival in the city, which will be attended by film stars including Shah Rukh Khan (SRK), Aamir Khan, Aishwarya Rai-Bachchan, Rishi Kapoor, Hrithik Roshan, Farhan Akhtar and cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar, according to the British High Commission.

Their Royal Highnesses, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will begin their seven-day tour of India and Bhutan on Sunday in Mumbai. n More on Page 17 Announced during Prime Minister Modi’s visit to the UK late last year, this tour builds on the strong bonds between the two countries.

While in India they will experience the four passions, which unite the country — cricket, Bollywood, politics and family. On Sunday, they will head to the Oval Maidan to watch and take part in a cricket match between beneficiaries and representatives of three charities based in Mumbai — Magic Bus, Doorstep and India’s Childline.

On Sunday evening they will attend a glittering reception and dinner alongside some of the biggest names in business and Bollywood to celebrate Mumbai’s film and creative industries. The reception is being hosted by the British High Commission in partnership with the British Asian Trust, of which The Prince of Wales is founder and president.

British High Commissioner to India, Sir Dominic Asquith KCMG, said: “The Duke and Duchess are most excited about their first visit to India, and we hope this visit will mark the start of a long friendship between them and this magnificent and diverse country. They are embarking on a packed, varied and exciting programme where they will gain an understanding of modern India — a vibrant, entrepreneurial, aspirational nation that faces both its challenges and huge opportunities with confidence.”

“This will be the one of the most ambitious tours Their Royal Highnesses have ever undertaken and promises to be the most colourful tour to date. It will cover five distinct locations over six days across four regions of India and a visit to the remote and beautiful Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan,” said Sir Asquith.