Their visit comes ten years after their previous trip to India in 2016.
Princess Catherine is set to return to India this week alongside Prince William for the couple’s first visit to the country in a decade.
The three-day royal visit, beginning on November 16, marks a significant milestone for Catherine as she resumes major overseas engagements following her cancer diagnosis in March 2024.
The couple last undertook a major overseas tour in March 2022, visiting the Caribbean.
Kensington Palace has confirmed that the Prince and Princess of Wales will travel to Mumbai for a series of engagements “celebrating innovation, sustainability, youth leadership and the enduring connections between the United Kingdom and India”.
Their visit comes ten years after their previous trip to India in 2016.
This time, the royal couple are expected to meet Bollywood stars, while also celebrating the country’s passion for cricket.
One of the biggest events on their itinerary will be the Earthshot Prize Awards ceremony, where winners across five categories will each receive £1 million for their work on tackling environmental challenges.
The trip is particularly significant for Kate, marking her first long-haul overseas visit since she revealed her cancer diagnosis. She received treatment at the Royal Marsden hospital for an undisclosed form of cancer before announcing in January 2025 that she was in remission.
Prince William previously spoke about his wife’s return to overseas engagements, saying she was “edging herself back” into undertaking more international visits following her cancer journey.
However, in an interview in May, he acknowledged the demands of royal travel, stressing the importance of having to “make sure she’s okay and rested”.
Kate last attended an Earthshot Prize awards ceremony in December 2022, joining William in Boston, US, for the event’s presentation.
The couple also attended the wedding of Jordan’s Crown Prince in the Middle East just over six months later, while Kate undertook solo visits to France in autumn 2023 to support England during the Rugby World Cup in her role as patron of the Rugby Football Union.
The Earthshot Prize, founded by William, is now halfway through its ten-year mission to identify and reward innovative solutions that could help “repair” the planet.
Previous ceremonies have been held in London, Singapore, Cape Town, Boston and Rio de Janeiro.
Since launching the initiative in 2021, William has attracted a number of high-profile supporters, including Hollywood actors Leonardo DiCaprio, Matthew McConaughey and Cate Blanchett, broadcaster and naturalist Sir David Attenborough, and former New Zealand prime minister Jacinda Ardern.
Inspired by former US president John F Kennedy’s Moonshot project, which challenged scientists to land an astronaut on the Moon and return him safely, the Earthshot Prize aims to encourage similarly ambitious thinking to address some of the world’s most pressing environmental problems.
During their visit to India, William and Kate will also attend the inaugural Children’s Earthshot Awards ceremony.
The initiative has encouraged young people across the country to take action on environmental issues through the “I Can Earthshot Challenge”.
Jason Knauf, Earthshot’s chief executive officer, said: “As we prepare to host the Earthshot Prize Summit in Mumbai, these remarkable children remind us that local community action, driven by youthful optimism and determination, is vital to repairing our planet.
“We can’t wait to celebrate them in Mumbai for our biggest edition yet.”
