Prince William to become first British Royal to visit Palestinian Territories

Prince William to become first British Royal to visit Palestinian Territories The Duke is scheduled to go there in the summer as part of a Middle East tour that will also include trips to Israel and Jordan.

Image: The Duke of Cambridge will visit the Middle East later this year

Prince William is set to become the first British Royal to make an official visit to the Occupied Palestinian Territories.

The Duke of Cambridge is scheduled to go there in the summer as part of a Middle East tour that will also include Israel and Jordan.

It will also be the first ever official visit to Israel by a member of the British Royal Family, according to the Times of Israel.

The trip will be the most sensitive that the prince - who is now a full-time Royal - has ever undertaken.

Kensington Palace said the tour was "at the request of Her Majesty's government and has been welcomed by the Israeli, Jordanian and Palestinian authorities".


Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described the visit as "historic", adding: "He will be welcomed here with great affection.

"I have ordered the Foreign Ministry director general to coordinate preparations for the visit to ensure its success."

Israel President Reuven Rivlin tweeted that the arrival of Prince William on the country's 70th anniversary of independence was a "very special present".

Image: Prince Charles at Shimon Peres' funeral in 2016

Meanwhile, Foreign Office minister Alistair Burt said it was an "important and unique opportunity to promote diplomatic and cultural ties in the region".

In 2016, William's father, Prince Charles, attended the funeral of ex-Israeli president and prime minister Shimon Peres, but it was not considered a formal royal visit.

Last year, it was reported there were plans for Charles to visit Israel in an official capacity but the trip was apparently cancelled over fears it would anger the UK's Arab allies.

The Queen's cousin, the Duke of Gloucester, visited the St John eye clinic in the Occupied Palestinian Territories in 2007, but this was not considered an official visit.