Britain’s Duke and Duchess of Cambridge could use their India tour to highlight the plight of UK steel workers.
Prince William and Duchess Catherine will visit India and Bhutan next week on an official tour, and are due to meet up with business leaders in Mumbai and Indian politicians in Delhi, where they could mention the issue.
Royal sources told the Daily Express newspaper that the couple and their advisers are "monitoring" the "crisis" – which sees 15,000 jobs at Mumbai-based firm Tata Steel’s UK-based workforce hang in the balance with the sale of British steelworks due to begin on Monday (11.04.16).
However, the prince and duchess are not due to meet anyone from Tata Steel.
The royal couple – who have children, Prince George, two, and 11-month-old Princess Charlotte – will fly to Mumbai on April 10, where they will begin their week-long visit to the country, and nearby Bhutan.
As well as Mumbai, William and Catherine will visit India’s capital, New Delhi, and Gandhi Smriti, where India’s founding father Mahatma Gandhi spent the last few years of his life.
They will also meet more youngsters in Kaziranga, Assam, and go to the National Park before heading to Bhutan, where they will be treated to a ceremonial welcome in the country’s capital of Thimphu.
The royal couple will then return to India, where they will take in the famous Taj Mahal in Agra on their final day.