In March, a palace spokesman addressed William’s appreciation for the connection between India and his mother.
William is “of course aware of the huge esteem his mother, the late Princess of Wales, is held in India and he appreciates the iconic status of the images that exist of the Princess at the Taj,” the spokesman said.
Adding that William and Kate were “looking forward to creating some new memories,” the spokesman said, “He feels incredibly lucky to visit a place where his mother’s memory is kept alive by so many who travel there.”
Of course, there is a key difference between Diana’s visit and her son and daughter-in-law’s. “William will remember, and I’m sure, understand, how difficult it must have been for his mother,” her former bodyguard Ken Wharfe, who was present during Diana’s stop at the Taj, tells PEOPLE.
Wharfe, whose book Closely Guarded Secret chronicled his work with Diana, recalls her famous words at the photo call. “When Diana sat on that bench, she was asked, ‘What does it feel like?’ She turned to me and said, 'What shall I say, Ken?’ So I just said quickly, 'Just say it is healing experience.’”
Despite the unhappy headlines, a then-9-year-old William may have been told that the place was remarkable and that she enjoyed visiting.
“She confided in William a lot at that age,” says Wharfe. “She will have said, 'This is an amazing place – one day I hope you do this, William. It is one of the seven wonders of the world and I was fortunate enough to go there.’ She was never negative about her husband in his company, she never criticized her husband in his company. She certainly would have said all the positive things about somewhere they had been.”
The spectacular historical site served as the last major stop for the royal couple before they head home to reunite with their massively missed children, Prince George and Princess Charlotte. Kate is bringing home at least one special souvenir: a necklace given to her by Queen Jetsun, which she paired with an Alexander McQueen upon leaving Bhutan Saturday morning.
Governor of Paro Chenko Tshering and education minister Norbu Wangchuk, who had greeted the couple when they arrived in Bhutan two days ago, were there to see them off from the country that prides itself on being the happiest in the world.
“I think our happiness index has shot up – this visit has been a blessing for Bhutan,” said Wangchuck. “It is wonderful they got to meet our King and Queen and the new prince."
Tshering, who was with the couple at the Tiger's Nest monastery on Friday, added, “They loved the walk and were very fit. William got to see a yak which he said was a first. "They’re a marvelous couple and it’s been an honor to receive them. The relationship between our King and Queen and the British people is a good one.”
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