Britain's Prince William and his wife Kate left Pakistan on Friday after visiting an army dog training school, a day after a severe thunderstorm forced them to change their schedule and stay the night in Lahore.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge earlier visited a SOS children's village in Lahore on Thursday. She told CNN, “I think William and I really wanted to come and see a SOS children's village like this.
“There's so many vulnerable women here but they've really used their positivity and the support that the village here provides them to support and protect the next generation, the children in their care and give them the best possible start to their future lives."
They spoke with sick children who where receiving treatment in a cancer hospital.
"These vulnerable children, many who have come through traumatic circumstances, are nurtured in this caring environment and are able to form these quality relationships that they so desperately need to thrive." — The Duchess of Cambridge @SOSChildrenPK #RoyalVisitPakistan pic.twitter.com/bjUKazFp0j
— Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) October 19, 2019
Stuck in Lahore after their plane had to turn back in a violent storm, Kate asked to go back to the SOS Children’s Village that the Duchess believes could be a model for many other projects.
Frustrated that they were not allowed enough time last Thursday, the Cambridges went back to the orphanage on Friday morning. They met some of the young Pakistani “graduates” of the organisation who now mentor 150 or so younger residents.
On the final day of their visit to Pakistan, The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge returned to @SOSChildrenPK, which provides a home and family structure to over 150 young girls and boys in Lahore #RoyalVisitPakistan pic.twitter.com/UhDqjzE9Et
— Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) October 19, 2019
"The community at the SOS Village is built around family - and the best possible family you could imagine - where everyone comes together to nurture, love and protect the children in their care." — The Duchess of Cambridge on @SOSChildrenPK #RoyalVisitPakistan pic.twitter.com/e0ymkWdLNl
— Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) October 19, 2019
On their final day, Prince William and Kate participated in a showcase cricket match followed by a visit to the historic Badshahi Mosque.
At the National Cricket Academy in Lahore @TheRealPCB, The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge joined a match with children participating in the @BritishCouncil’s DOSTI programme. #RoyalVisitPakistan pic.twitter.com/bOvF5osDtc
— Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) October 17, 2019
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge visited the Badshahi Mosque, the most iconic Islamic site in Lahore, set in the heart of the Walled City. #RoyalVisitPakistan pic.twitter.com/qinWcFoeib
— Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) October 17, 2019
A planned visit to a Pakistani military post in the Khyber region on Friday morning was cancelled because of the change in their schedule, but the prince said learning about the security situation in the country was an objective of the visit.
"What happens here in Pakistan directly correlates to what happens on the streets of the UK," William told British media after he and Kate saw dogs that are trained to sniff out explosives.
At the Army Canine Centre in Islamabad, The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge joined dog handlers as they train dogs to recognise and scout out hidden explosive materials, before taking some of the puppies through their paces on an agility training course #RoyalVisitPakistan pic.twitter.com/EwmeCGbVmK
— Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) October 18, 2019
"We are involved with the Pakistanis for a very good reason, it will actually keep people safe back in the UK."
An RAF Voyager carrying the royals aborted landings in Islamabad and nearby Rawalpindi on Thursday because of severe turbulence during the thunderstorm.
The couple stayed at Lahore's Pearl Continental Hotel on Thursday evening, along with journalists, their staff and foreign ministry officials. The couple told reporters after returning to Lahore that they were "fine".
William and Kate have also highlighted education and the impact of climate change during their stay in Pakistan.
Pakistan's government hopes the couple's four-day visit will help boost the country's image as a tourist and business destination, after decades of sectarian violence and political unrest.
"In terms of Pakistan's positive international image, the visit has been an unmitigated success," said Rifat Hussain, analyst and a former professor at Quaid e Azam university in Islamabad, though he said there had been some complaints from Pakistanis about the huge security operation around the trip.
&uuid=(email))