William to make royal history with Israel visit
PRINCE William will become the most senior Royal Family member to undertake an official visit to Israel, Jordan and the Occupied Palestinian Territories.
Kensington Palace announced yesterday that the second in line to the throne had been asked to undertake the historic – and, no doubt, extremely sensitive – tour by the UK Government, and will make the trip this summer.
The move was hailed by Israeli and Palestinian authorities, with Israel’s prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu saying: ‘We welcome the announcement on the arrival of Prince William to Israel.
‘This is a historic visit, the first of its kind, and it will be greeted here with great affection.’
William will also be the first Royal to make an official visit the Palestinian territories, which include Gaza and the West Bank.
Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas described the accepted invitation as ‘important’, adding: ‘We look forward to contributing to strengthening the bonds of friendship between the two peoples.’
The Royal Family has historically always rejected Israeli invitations for official state visits, although individual members have visited the country in a personal capacity.
The Queen has never visited Israel, while Prince Philip’s only trip came in 1994 to attend a ceremony commemorating his mother, Alice of Battenberg, who is buried on Jerusalem’s Mount of Olives.
Prince Charles has been to the country twice to pay respects at state funerals but these were not considered official visits.
Last year a rumoured visit by Charles was reportedly cancelled by the Royal Visits Committee, on the grounds that it would ‘upset Arab nations in the region who regularly host UK Royals’. As the Queen, 91, no longer undertakes long haul journeys, a trip by her heir is now akin to a state visit – with the arrival of William not far behind in terms of significance.
The tour will be the most high profile and diplomatically sensitive visit yet for the 35-year-old Prince, whose recent overseas trips have been to countries such as Canada, Germany, Norway and Sweden.
He is expected to spend time with senior politicians, visit charities and get to know the people of the Middle East in a bid to boost cultural and diplomatic ties.
William will travel without his wife Kate or their children. Sources revealed negotiations for the trip have been going on since early last year and that every nuance was being ‘carefully calibrated’.
William, although still relatively inexperienced on the international stage, will be accompanied by one of the country’s most experienced diplomats, Sir David Manning, who has mentored him since 2009.
Sir David is the author of the ‘Manning Memo’ which brokered a crucial meeting between George W Bush and Tony Blair in the run-up to the 2003 Iraq War.
Foreign Office minister Alistair Burt said the trip was an ‘ important and unique opportunity to promote diplomatic and cultural ties’. Kensington Palace said: ‘The visit is at the request of Her Majesty’s Government and has been welcomed by Israeli, Jordanian and Palestinian authorities. Further details will be announced in due course.’
‘Strengthen bonds of friendship’