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| Duke and Duchess of Cambridge to visit Taj Mahal | Duke and Duchess of Cambridge to visit Taj Mahal |
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| The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will visit the Taj Mahal, the scene of a famous photo of a solitary Princess Diana more than two decades ago that fuelled much speculation about the state of her relationship with Prince Charles. | The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will visit the Taj Mahal, the scene of a famous photo of a solitary Princess Diana more than two decades ago that fuelled much speculation about the state of her relationship with Prince Charles. |
| The marble mausoleum in Agra will be the last stop of a week-long royal visit by the duke and duchess to Bhutan and India starting on Sunday, which has already generated something of a storm in a teacup. The Times of India reported that the British high commission had asked Indian authorities to dismantle scaffolding around the Taj Mahal so it would not spoil a photo opportunity for the royal couple. An Archeological Survey of India official was quoted by the paper as saying that the request was made by British diplomats who visited the Taj Mahal several times during the past two months, but was rejected because it would undo “months of hard work”. | The marble mausoleum in Agra will be the last stop of a week-long royal visit by the duke and duchess to Bhutan and India starting on Sunday, which has already generated something of a storm in a teacup. The Times of India reported that the British high commission had asked Indian authorities to dismantle scaffolding around the Taj Mahal so it would not spoil a photo opportunity for the royal couple. An Archeological Survey of India official was quoted by the paper as saying that the request was made by British diplomats who visited the Taj Mahal several times during the past two months, but was rejected because it would undo “months of hard work”. |
| Related: Living in India: what does the royal family mean to you? | Related: Living in India: what does the royal family mean to you? |
| The Foreign Office has rebutted the claims. A FCO spokeswoman said: “We can confirm that this story is not correct. We did not request that the Taj Mahal remove the scaffolding.” | The Foreign Office has rebutted the claims. A FCO spokeswoman said: “We can confirm that this story is not correct. We did not request that the Taj Mahal remove the scaffolding.” |
| Three minarets out of the four surrounding the main mausoleum have been covered with iron rods for conservation work. | Three minarets out of the four surrounding the main mausoleum have been covered with iron rods for conservation work. |
| The duke and duchess’s trip, the first royal visit to India since Diana’s sojourn 24 years ago, comes amid media criticism of the duke for carrying out only a few official royal engagements this year. Their first engagement in India, on 10 April, will be a visit to the Taj Palace hotel in Mumbai where terrorists killed 166 people in November 2008. | |
| They will also meet children from the NGOs Magic Bus, ChildLine and Doorstep, followed by a dinner with Bollywood stars such as Shah Rukh Khan and Aishwarya Rai, as well as cricketer Sachin Tendulkar. In Delhi, the couple will pay their respects at India Gate to the 70,000 Indian soldiers who died fighting in the first world war. They will also meet Narendra Modi, the prime minister. | They will also meet children from the NGOs Magic Bus, ChildLine and Doorstep, followed by a dinner with Bollywood stars such as Shah Rukh Khan and Aishwarya Rai, as well as cricketer Sachin Tendulkar. In Delhi, the couple will pay their respects at India Gate to the 70,000 Indian soldiers who died fighting in the first world war. They will also meet Narendra Modi, the prime minister. |
| The couple will then go to Kaziranga national park, which has the world’s largest population of one-horned rhinos. The duke, who supports conservation movements worldwide, is particularly keen to meet people who work with wildlife in the park. | The couple will then go to Kaziranga national park, which has the world’s largest population of one-horned rhinos. The duke, who supports conservation movements worldwide, is particularly keen to meet people who work with wildlife in the park. |
| In Bhutan, where happiness is at the heart of the national agenda, the couple will be welcomed by a procession of musicians before a private audience with the king and queen. They will also watch an archery competition – Bhutan’s national sport – and have a private dinner at Lingkana palace hosted by the king and queen. | In Bhutan, where happiness is at the heart of the national agenda, the couple will be welcomed by a procession of musicians before a private audience with the king and queen. They will also watch an archery competition – Bhutan’s national sport – and have a private dinner at Lingkana palace hosted by the king and queen. |
| Upon their return to India, the duke and duchess will visit the Taj Mahal. According to a statement, William “feels incredibly lucky to visit a place where his mother’s memory is kept alive by so many who travel there.” | Upon their return to India, the duke and duchess will visit the Taj Mahal. According to a statement, William “feels incredibly lucky to visit a place where his mother’s memory is kept alive by so many who travel there.” |
| The Taj Mahal was commissioned by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan for his wife, Mumtaz Mahal, who died after giving birth to the couple’s 14th child. In 1992, Princess Diana was photographed alone on a bench in front of the white marble mausoleum. | The Taj Mahal was commissioned by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan for his wife, Mumtaz Mahal, who died after giving birth to the couple’s 14th child. In 1992, Princess Diana was photographed alone on a bench in front of the white marble mausoleum. |