Prince William is to make his first official trip to Paris since his mother’s death 20 years ago.
Princess Diana – who had two sons, Prince William, 34, and Prince Harry, 32, with her ex-husband Prince Charles – tragically lost her life in a fatal car crash which took place in the Pont de l’Alma road tunnel in the French capital in August 1997.
Now, Prince William, the eldest son of the late royal, is set to make his first public trip to the city with his wife Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, when the couple embark on a two-day venture starting on March 17.
According to the Daily Star newspaper, Kensington Palace states the royal – who was 15 at the time of Diana’s death – made "at least one private trip to the city", but has never been to the capital on official business.
Prince William and Duchess Catherine – who share three-year-old son Prince George and 21-month-old daughter Princess Charlotte together – will visit the city to meet with young French leaders for dinner at the British ambassador’s residence, and the trip will not include a visit to the site of Princess Diana’s crash.
Meanwhile, it was previously reported that the pair will be in attendance at the Six Nations rugby match against Wales and France at the Stade de France during their stay on March 18.
A statement on Royal.uk reads: "The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will undertake an official two-day visit to Paris on 17th and 18th March.
"Their Royal Highness’ visit is at the request of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. Full details of the visit will be announced in due course, but the itinerary will include a reception for young French leaders from a variety of fields, a formal dinner at the residence of Her Majesty’s Ambassador and attendance at the Wales v France Six Nations test at the Stade de France."