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Sunday, April 10, 2016

William And Kate Pay Tribute To Mumbai Victims

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have paid tribute to the victims of the Mumbai massacre as they arrived in India for their first visit.

Prince William and Kate - dubbed WillKat by local media - were welcomed by lobby staff at the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel.

The luxury hotel was the scene of one of a series of attacks in the city by militants in 2008, during which at least 167 people were killed, including many foreigners.

The couple laid a wreath with a message that said: "In memory of those who lost their lives and those injured in the senseless atrocities at the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel."

They heard first-hand accounts of the horrors of the attacks from the likes of hotel chef Raghu Deora, who was shot in the stomach and in the leg as he helped guests to safety.

The Duchess told him: "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."

Mr Deora also cooked the couple's lunch, which included a starter of vegetable kebabs and main courses including lentil curry with rice, ricotta cheese and okra.

He said: "It is all vegetarian because I was told that was what they preferred."

William and Kate are on a whistle-stop tour of the country, visiting five different locations in six days.

On arrival, they were informed of a temple fire that has killed 100 people in the southern Indian state of Kerala.

A Kensington Palace Spokesman said: "Their Royal Highnesses are saddened by the news and send their thoughts to all who are assisting the victims."

The couple later attended a cricket match at the Oval Maidan cricket ground before visiting slums in Mumbai.

On Sunday evening they will be joined by stars of Bollywood and sport for a charity fundraising reception.

Later in the tour they will also visit the Kaziranga National Park, which is home to tigers and elephants and two thirds of the world's great one-horned rhinoceroses.

The Duke and Duchess will also visit the Taj Mahal, famously visited by William's mother Diana, Princess of Wales.

And they will pay their respects to India's founding father, Mahatma Gandhi, at the place where he was assassinated in Delhi in 1948.

The Duchess flew the flag for her country when she arrived in India by wearing a dress by British label Alexander McQueen.

She is expected to wear outfits by a number of Indian designers during the trip.


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