“It has been a wonderful and colourful evening,” William said in his speech concluding the event, quoted in local reports. “It has been a real treat to be welcomed to India in this way.... When Catherine and I got married, India was the first place on her list which she told me she wanted to visit. Two children and five years later we finally made it, and we are quite honored to be here.”
The event took place at the city's Taj Mahal Palace Hotel and was hosted by the British High Commission in partnership with the British Asian Trust, founded by William's father, Prince Charles. It raised funds for three charities. Earlier in the day, the couple laid a wreath at a memorial site at the hotel, which was the scene of the November 2008 terrorist attacks that left 166 dead and wounded more than 300 people.
Kate's multiple outfits on the first day of her Indian visit were a hit among fashion observers. She was first seen in an Alexander McQueen ensemble featuring India-inspired paisley prints. Indian designer Rahul Mishra praised the outfit for its “strong heritage vibe.”
For her second public engagement, a charity cricket match in the company of Indian legend Sachin Tendulkar, Kate wore a printed tunic dress by Indian designer Anita Dongre. She was next seen in a sparkling, hand-embroidered dress by British designer Jenny Packham for the Bollywood evening.
The royals arrived in the Indian capital of New Delhi Monday to attend a party hosted at the residence of the British High Commissioner to mark the 90th birthday of William's grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II. The Queen's actual birthday is April 21, but celebrations of her majesty's Nonagintennial will be held throughout April, May and June.
The royals are on a seven-day tour of India and neighboring Bhutan.