BICOM

Prince William, The Duke of Cambridge, will visit the Palestinian Authority (PA) leadership in Ramallah today, the first-ever Royal visit to the West Bank.

Before traveling to the Palestinian Authority, the Duke met with Israel’s Eurovision Song Contest winner Netta Barzilai in Tel Aviv and met with young Israelis at the city’s Beit Ha’ir Museum. Beit Ha’ir is part of the White City UNESCO world cultural heritage site and an example of Bauhaus architecture.

He will meet PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas in his Muqata headquarters, followed by a visit to the Jalazoun refugee camp, a local clinic and a school in the municipality. In keeping with the trip’s focus on young people, Prince William is expected to meet young Palestinians and take part in Palestinian cultural events, including music and culinary activities.

Yesterday, Israeli President Reuven Rivlin asked the Duke of Cambridge to deliver a “message of peace” on his behalf when he meets Abbas.

He said: “It’s about time for us to find together a way to build confidence. To bring to an end the tragedy between us that goes on for more than 120 years.”

Later this afternoon, Prince William will speak at a reception held at the residence of the British Consulate-General in East Jerusalem.