William, Kate visit Taj, sit on Diana seat

Agra, April 16 (IANS) British royals, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, on Saturday spent around 45 minutes admiring the Taj Mahal and also sat on the ‘Diana seat’ for a photo session - evoking the memory of the late Princess of Wales, who had sat on that marble bench alone 24 years ago, triggering rumours about the state of her marriage.

In searing temperatures of 41 degrees Celsius, Prince William and Kate Middleton toured the grounds of the Taj and were given a guided tour of the mausoleum.

The hyped up visit of the British royals to the 17th century monument of love began at 3.35 p.m. on Saturday. The couple stayed till 4.22 p.m.

The couple sat for a while on the Diana seat, where Prince William’s mother, the late Princess of Wales, had sat alone during a February 1992 visit.

When Diana was photographed alone on the seat, it led to rumours about the state of her marriage to Prince Charles. By the end of the year it was announced she and Charles had agreed to separate.

Prince William and Kate sat down on that seat and posed for waiting photographers with the Taj Mahal in the background.

The couple was accompanied by Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) officials during the tour around the Taj.

The British royals also saw the Yamuna river which flows at the rear of the monument.

Prince William wore a blazer, shirt and chinos, while Kate looked cool in a white knee length dress with blue prints by designer Naeem Khan.

The visit to the Taj was the last stop for Prince William and Kate of a seven-day tour to India and Bhutan.