Prince William, 33, is expected to make a pilgrimage to the Taj Mahal with wife Kate, 34, during their tour of India which begins next week, but a row has erupted over scaffolding at the site

Foreign Office mandarins allegedly asked Indian authorities to take down scaffolding on the Taj Mahal so it does not ruin a photo opportunity when the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge visit.

Prince William, 33, is expected to follow in the footsteps of his mother Princess Diana when he visits the Indian landmark with wife Kate, 34, during their tour of the country which begins next week.

But a furious row has erupted after the Foreign Office was forced to deny claims printed in an Indian newspaper that British officials had asked authorities to dismantle scaffolding around three of the historic building's minarets.

The Times of India claimed members of the British High Commission's advance team asked for the building work to be dismantled ahead of the royal visit so they did not spoil photographs taken at the event.

The paper reported that the request could not be accepted as 'months of hard work' has gone into it and workers would have to start from scratch if the scaffolding was removed.

A senior official, who did not wish to be named, told the newspaper the advanced team visited the monument several times and in one of the meetings the issue of removal of scaffolding was raised but was turned down by Indian officials.

The source told the paper: 'Everyone wants to have a perfect picture at the Taj Mahal.

'A lot of inquiries are received at the office where tourists, especially foreigners, want to know when the scaffolding would be removed. They say they would plan their visit accordingly.'

However a Foreign Office spokeswoman told The Telegraph: 'We can confirm that this story is not correct. We did not request that the Taj Mahal remove the scaffolding.'

Princess Diana was famously pictured at the Taj Mahal a month before the announcement of her separation

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will rub shoulders with Bollywood stars at a glittering reception and dinner being held in their honour in Mumbai on their upcoming visit to India and Bhutan.

They will take in numerous locations over the course of the week, in what a spokesman described as their ‘most ambitious and colourful tour’ to date.

Among the stops will be the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel in Mumbai, one of the scenes of the 2008 terror attacks in which 164 people died.

The hotel has become a symbol of the city’s resilience, and the Duke and Duchess will meet members of staff who helped protect guests, in a show of ‘solidarity’.

From April 10 to 16 the couple will undertake a six day tour, taking in a safari at Kaziranga national park where they will visit an elephant sanctuary set up by Mark Shand, the late brother of the Duchess of Cornwall.

On their tour, they will also watch children play cricket and undertake a gruelling six hour hike to the Tiger's Nest monastery in the remote Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan.

The release of their schedule also confirms rumours that they will visit the poverty-stricken streets of Mumbai - made famous by Oscar-winning film Slumdog Millionaire.

The royals will meet and play with children who live in slums around the city and will see people who are living in tough circumstances in a small slum during a visit to the Malabar Hill area of Mumbai.

The royals, pictured at a lifesaving event on Manly Beach on April 18, 2014 in Sydney. They have previously undertaken tours to Australia, New Zealand and the US, but the visit to India and Bhutan will be their first time in both countries

William and Kate's six-day tour of India and Bhutan will begin on Sunday. But security has already been tightened ahead of their arrival following a police warning of a possible terror threat, according to reports from Indian media.

Punjab police are reported to have issued an alert regarding terrorists who may have crossed into the country.

People have been warned to be vigilant, especially in crowded places, and there are concerns that Mumbai and New Delhi, which the royal couple will visit, could be the target of a number of Pakistani terrorists.

The trip will be the first time the Cambridges have visited the two countries and highlights include a visit to the Taj Mahal and a trip to pay their respects to India's founding father Mahatma Gandhi, at the place where he was assassinated in New Delhi in 1948.

The couple will travel to the Kaziranga National Park, a wildlife sanctuary and world heritage site which is home to two thirds of the world's great one-horned rhinoceroses as well as tigers, elephants and wild water buffalo.

On April 14, they will visit nearby Bhutan, a small landlocked country in the shadow of the Himalayan peaks which has a rich Buddhist tradition.

One of the country's major attractions is Paro Taktsang, the Tiger's Nest monastery, and the royal couple will hike up to the religious centre perched on the side of a cliff.

The Bollywood dinner is being hosted by the British High Commission and the British Asian Trust, which supports grassroots initiatives in Asia that enable disadvantaged people to transform their lives, and has the Prince of Wales as its founder and president.

Sir Dominic Asquith, British High Commissioner to India, said: 'Their Royal Highnesses are delighted to have this opportunity to celebrate India's notable contribution to cinema and to meet some of Mumbai's most influential people in film, sport and business.

'The Duke and Duchess take a particular interest in initiatives that promote the welfare of disadvantaged children, helping them access education and health services. They are pleased that the funds raised at this event for these important organisations will create a small legacy of their visit to India.'