Their Royal Highnesses Prince William and Princess Kate Middleton are set to embark on a three-day official visit to India from November 16 to 18, 2026. The high-profile tour will feature a packed schedule across Mumbai and New Delhi, underscoring a commitment to climate action, innovation, and strengthening bilateral ties between India and the United Kingdom.
Royal Engagements in Mumbai and New Delhi
The royal itinerary in Mumbai includes a unique experience on the Mumbai Metro, participation in a gully cricket event, and interactions with prominent Bollywood personalities at a local production house. Princess Kate is also scheduled to visit a hospital in the city as part of her engagements. The visit marks their first joint trip to India since 2016, with a strong emphasis on cultural exchange and economic partnership.
On November 18, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will travel to New Delhi for a significant meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Acting British High Commissioner to India, Ben Miller, stated that this meeting would celebrate the partnership between the two nations and discuss future areas of cooperation, particularly in light of the recently implemented India-UK Free Trade Agreement.
The Earthshot Prize Comes to India
A central highlight of the visit will be the sixth annual Earthshot Prize awards ceremony, scheduled for November 17 in Mumbai. Founded by Prince William in 2020, the Earthshot Prize recognizes and supports innovative solutions to the world's most pressing environmental challenges. This year's ceremony will see 15 environmental solutions, involving 20 individuals, shortlisted across five categories. Five winners will each receive £1 million to scale their climate and environmental initiatives.
The star-studded event is expected to draw approximately 5,000 guests and will be hosted by filmmaker Karan Johar. Confirmed attendees include Indian luminaries such as Sachin Tendulkar, Alia Bhatt, Sonam Kapoor, and Shreya Ghoshal, alongside international celebrities.
Ben Miller highlighted India's crucial role in global environmental progress. “India’s ability to innovate and scale solutions makes it a natural home for the Earthshot Prize, and a partner that we in the UK government are proud to work alongside in delivering global environmental and economic progress,” Miller stated. He further noted India’s position as the world's third-largest renewable energy market and its ambitious clean energy plans, emphasizing UK-India climate cooperation in clean energy, finance, and resilience.
Bolstering UK-India Trade Relations
The royal visit also occurs just months after the landmark India-UK Free Trade Agreement (FTA) officially came into force on July 15, 2026. This agreement is hailed as a groundbreaking deal, expected to significantly boost annual bilateral trade by £25.5 billion and contribute £4.8 billion annually to Britain's GDP in the long term, according to UK government estimates.
Miller recalled a previous meeting between Prime Minister Modi and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer in Mumbai last year, where discussions centered on forging a modern partnership. Since then, the relationship has expanded through the FTA, the Vision 2035 roadmap, and enhanced cooperation in critical sectors such including technology, education, security, and clean energy.