- Prince William will visit Middle East at the request of Theresa May’s government
- Palace said visit was ‘welcomed’ by Israeli, Jordanian and Palestinian authorities
- The last royal visit to Middle East was by the Prince of Wales to Israel in 2016
The Duke of Cambridge will visit Israel, Jordan and the Occupied Palestinian Territories in the summer, Kensington Palace has said.
Prince William has never been to the region before and will be going without Kate, who is due to give birth to her third child in April.
The royal tour this summer will be the most sensitive the Duke – who is now a full-time royal – has ever undertaken.
Prince William arriving at the First Annual Royal Foundation Forum in London yesterday
Kensington Palace said the visit had been requested by Theresa May’s government and had been welcomed by the leaders of the countries involved.
A spokesman said: ‘The visit is at the request of Her Majesty’s Government and has been welcomed by the Israeli, Jordanian and Palestinian authorities.
‘Further details will be announced in due course.’
The last royal visit to Israel came on September 30, 2016, when the Prince of Wales attended the state memorial for President Shimon Peres.
The Prince also visited Jordan on an official visit from February 7 to 9, 2015.
And the most recent visit to the Palestinian occupied territories was on December 15, 2007, when the Duke of Gloucester went to the St John Eye Clinic.
Foreign Office minister Alistair Burt tweeted: ‘Welcome news that HRH The Duke of Cambridge will visit Israel, Jordan and the Occupied Palestinian Territories later this year.
‘Important and unique opportunity to promote diplomatic and cultural ties in the region.’
The last royal visit to Jordan was by the Prince of Wales, who is seen here on the second day of his tour on February 8, 2015
Foreign Office minister Alistair Burt welcomed the visit today and called it an ‘important and unique opportunity’ for diplomacy in the region