Kate Middleton, Prince William To Visit Paris Few Months Before Britain's Exit From EU

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, Prince William and Kate Middleton will pay an official two-day visit to Paris starting Friday, few months before the 20th death anniversary of Princess Diana, Kensington Palace said in a statement. Princess Diana was killed in a car crash in Paris' Pont de l'Alma underpass on August 31, 1997, when Prince William was 15-years-old and his brother, Prince Harry was aged 12.

Read: Prince William And Kate Middleton To Expand The Kensington Palace

The royal couple is scheduled to arrive in Paris Friday afternoon and then meet with representatives of the French government. After which, they will attend a reception at the British Embassy to launch “Les Voisins” (The Cousins) — an initiative to celebrate the close relations between U.K. and France. This comes at a time when Britain is set to begin the process of officially exiting the European Union, according to Royal Central.

Post-Brexit, uncertainties will remain about London-Paris equations, which have been central to Europe's foreign policy-making for the last four decades.

Prince William and Kate will also meet people from various fields such as arts, sports, fashion, business and voluntary sectors, and young military award winners too Friday night. Following this, the most glamorous event of the trip will take place — a black-tie dinner will be hosted by the Ambassador at the British Embassy, Paris, the Royal Central reported.

Saturday morning will start with the royal couple's visit to Les Invalides, a landmark in Paris. It was built between 1670 and 1676 as a place for retirement of French war veterans. It is best known for housing the tomb of Napoleon Bonaparte. The complex also has the Museum of Arms, the Museum of Contemporary History, and the Museum of Plains-Reliefs.

The Duke and Duchess will be given the tour of Les Invalides and will be explained how it supports veterans and the particulars of their rehabilitation programmes, according to Royal Central.

At last, the couple will attend a Wales vs. France RBS Six Nations rugby match at Stade du France.

Prince William took over from the Queen as the Welsh Rugby Union's (WRU) patron. The WRU role is one of 25 patronages the Queen will pass on to other Royal Family members, Buckingham Palace announced December 2016, BBC reported.

This will be William's first official engagement in his capacity as patron.