Yesterday, The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge swapped #RoyalVisitIndia for #RoyalVisitBhutan, as they arrived at the airport. William and Catherine were greeted by the King of Bhutan’s, sister Princess Chhimi Yangzom and her husband; they were each presented with a ceremonial scarf called a khadhar, given as a symbol of friendship.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge with the King and Queen of Bhutan at the TashichhoDzong Temple in Thimpu, Bhutan. Picture by Stephen Lock / i-Images
Bhutan’s King and Queen, Jigme and Jetsun, met the British royals in a private audience after posing for the press at the ceremonial welcome ceremony in the Bhutanese capital Thimphu.
Later the Duke and Duchess entered a temple with the other Royal couple and lit oil lamps to dispel the darkness.
Kate was dressed in a Bhutanese-inspired outfit, with a mauve and blue skirt made locally, from woven material and styled on the country’s national dress.
The Duke and Duchess recuperated with a cup of tea; in the crowd, men sing songs to celebrate hitting the target and are cheered on by women supporters. These women also sing songs of support for their own men and obscene chants to try to distract their rivals.
William and Kate stood and watched as the archers showed off their skills, hitting the target from 450ft away, as a group of women sang soothing songs of support. Prince William was amazed by the distance covered: “That’s amazing. That’s the furthest I’ve ever seen anyone fire a bow and arrow.”
“They are singing obscenities,” the translator told William about the contents of the song sang as he took a shot… “You’re bald. You’re a baldy. Your nose is really big. We hope your private parts are as big.”
The couple were given the chance to hit the target, before being given their own traditional bamboo bows and arrows to take home.
Prince William, firing from about 50 yards away, missed his go: two arrows went in the direction of the road behind a grassy bank at Changlingmethang National Archery Ground, instead of the target.
After his first shot Prince William said: “Did that clear the bank? Because it looked like it did. I don’t want to cause a crash.” After the second, the Duke exclaimed: “I hope I haven’t killed a driver or that man on the bridge.”
Also, William was just as badly skilled when they tried out khuru, the nation’s second most popular sport, which was developed by cow herders. It is a type of dart throwing.
Catherine also had a go at dart throwing, but had about as much success at her husband.
Queen Jetsun recently gave birth to the Bhutanese couple’s first child, in February, so children was likely a topic of conversation between the two women when they met.
Later in the evening, the Duke and scDuchess dined with the King and Queen at Lingkana Palace.
Today they will enjoy a six-hour hike to the stunning Tiger’s nest monastery overlooking the Paro Valley.
William and Kate leave their hotel in Thimphu, Bhutan for a dinner with the King and Queen. Picture by POOL / i-Images
