Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge and Prince William visited one of Pakistan’s holiest sites during their time in Lahore today. Lahore’s Badshahi Mosque is one of the largest in the world and the outfit Kate wore to visit the sacred landmark shared one striking trait with what Meghan Markle and Princess Diana wore during similar visits.
Last month, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry visited a mosque in Cape Town during their 10-day tour of Southern Africa.
Meghan wore a modest floor-length shirt dress when she and Prince Harry met locals at the Auwal Mosque.
The Duchess of Sussex covered her head with a cream scarf as a sign of respect in the Islamic church.
Today, Kate stunned in a traditional turquoise shalwar kameez with a matching headscarf when she and Prince William were given a tour of the Badshahi Mosque.
While not all mosques insist on non-Muslim women covering their heads it is a sign of respect to do so.
While customs of Islamic dress vary greatly from culture to culture, many Muslim women choose to cover their heads as a sign of modesty.
According to the Islamic holy book, the Koran, Muslim men and women should both dress modestly in loose-fitting clothing.
Prince William and Kate also removed their shoes as a show of respect during their visit to the Badshahi Mosque.
They were shown round by Imam Kabir Azad and Honorary Consul to the UK Fakir Aijazuddin.
Diana visited Pakistan on three occasions and her visit to the Badshahi Mosque in 1991 made headlines.
Mullahs (Muslim religious leaders) protested at the Princess of Wales’ knee-length skirt – which was considered too short.
The director of the mosque was criticised for presenting (the then) HRH, a non-Muslim, with a copy of the Koran and allowing her into the sacred precincts while immodestly dressed.
The case went to court and ended with the litigant mullahs being ordered to stop wasting the judge’s time.