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| Duke and Duchess of Cambridge begin India and Bhutan tour | Duke and Duchess of Cambridge begin India and Bhutan tour |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have laid a wreath in Mumbai at the start of a seven-day tour of India and Bhutan. | The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have laid a wreath in Mumbai at the start of a seven-day tour of India and Bhutan. |
| The couple, who are travelling without their children, were paying respects at the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel to victims of the 2008 attacks in the city. | |
| Thirty-one members of staff and guests there were killed in the assaults. | |
| The royals will later visit the Taj Mahal in Agra where in 1992 William's mother, Diana, Princess of Wales, was famously photographed sitting alone. | |
| Kensington Palace said the duke and duchess had been informed on their arrival in Mumbai about the explosion and fire at a Hindu temple in Kerala, and sent their thoughts to all who were assisting the victims. | Kensington Palace said the duke and duchess had been informed on their arrival in Mumbai about the explosion and fire at a Hindu temple in Kerala, and sent their thoughts to all who were assisting the victims. |
| In pictures: Duke and duchess in India | |
| They laid the wreath of white lilies at a memorial in the hotel commemorating those who died in 2008. | |
| A card, signed by William and Catherine, was placed on top of the wreath, reading: "In memory of those who lost their lives and those injured in the senseless atrocities at the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel." | |
| The duke and duchess later chatted with hotel staff, including chef Raghu Deora, 41, one of the survivors of the attack. | |
| The duke asked him about what happened on the day, while the duchess said: "It must have been a surreal time." | |
| Mr Deora said: "The duke asked me what happened to me and I explained how I was shot. He asked me how long I took to recover, and I said six months, with the last operation two years ago." | |
| Analysis | Analysis |
| By BBC royal correspondent Peter Hunt | By BBC royal correspondent Peter Hunt |
| After some unflattering media coverage, the couple that represent the future of the British monarchy will be hoping that this tour will generate more positive headlines. | After some unflattering media coverage, the couple that represent the future of the British monarchy will be hoping that this tour will generate more positive headlines. |
| Prince William, an air ambulance pilot, has been accused of being "work shy" and "throne idle". | Prince William, an air ambulance pilot, has been accused of being "work shy" and "throne idle". |
| His supporters insist he's the heir-but-one to the throne and he's balancing his flying career with his responsibilities as a senior royal and his desire not to be an absent father. | His supporters insist he's the heir-but-one to the throne and he's balancing his flying career with his responsibilities as a senior royal and his desire not to be an absent father. |
| This visit to India and Bhutan will help to establish if the claim of "work shy" sticks - as "Air Miles Andy" has to his uncle - or whether it is replaced by a more favourable appraisal of what the future king is trying to do. | This visit to India and Bhutan will help to establish if the claim of "work shy" sticks - as "Air Miles Andy" has to his uncle - or whether it is replaced by a more favourable appraisal of what the future king is trying to do. |
| When he gets to Bhutan, the recently-criticised representative of the Windsor dynasty will meet the king and queen of a fledgling democracy where the monarchy is revered. | When he gets to Bhutan, the recently-criticised representative of the Windsor dynasty will meet the king and queen of a fledgling democracy where the monarchy is revered. |
| Read more from Peter | Read more from Peter |
| One of the first engagements on the tour will see the couple visit Mumbai's Oval Maidan public park where they will join children playing cricket and meet charity representatives. | One of the first engagements on the tour will see the couple visit Mumbai's Oval Maidan public park where they will join children playing cricket and meet charity representatives. |
| In the evening, they will attend a charity fundraising reception and dinner with Bollywood and sporting stars. | In the evening, they will attend a charity fundraising reception and dinner with Bollywood and sporting stars. |
| Moving on to New Delhi during the week, they will pay their respects to India's founding father Mahatma Gandhi at the location of his 1948 assassination. | Moving on to New Delhi during the week, they will pay their respects to India's founding father Mahatma Gandhi at the location of his 1948 assassination. |
| Their visit will also see them tour the Kaziranga National Park, famous for its one-horned rhinoceroses, tigers and elephants. | Their visit will also see them tour the Kaziranga National Park, famous for its one-horned rhinoceroses, tigers and elephants. |
| In Bhutan, the duke and duchess will meet the king and queen of the remote Himalayan kingdom. | |
| King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck and Queen Jetsun Pema both studied in the UK, and have even been compared to the duke and duchess. |