MUMBAI – The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, Prince William and his wife Kate Middleton, wrapped up their two-day Mumbai trip by interacting with budding young Indian entrepreneurs here on Monday.
The royal couple arrived for the Young Entrepreneurs Event at The Social, a cafe which is also a collaborative workspace for emerging business talents.
At the event, they launched the Tech Rocketships Awards and called upon young Indian entrepreneurs and start-ups to “go global”, and listened attentively to their start-up ideas and enterprises.
“Being here today, it is clear that India is leading the way in so many areas of innovation and technology,” Prince William lauded the entrepreneurial spirit of the gathering.
Later, Prince William tried his hands at a Formula E racing car simulator developed by Indian automobiles giant, Mahindra & Mahindra.
Anand Mahindra said that on Sunday night, he had informed Prince William that he would be in a (racing) car simulator and the royal visitor reminded him that he was a pilot!
“He’s a real competitor,” Anand Mahindra tweeted on the encounter.
During the interaction with entrepreneurs, both Prince William and Kate tied blindfolds and experienced how to type in Braille, typing the word ‘George’ as the gathering cheered and clapped.
On their first-ever trip to India which began in Mumbai on Sunday, the young royals left the city charmed by their grace and humility as they enthusiastically participated in various activities.
Among other things that left Mumbaikars awed were playing cricket and dodge-ball with children, scattering petals in the holy Banganga Tank and hosting the big names of Indian industry and Bollywood at a charity gala dinner late Sunday night.
They will reach New Delhi later on Monday for various engagements including a visit to Rajghat and Gandhi Museum, a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, a birthday party to mark Queen Elizabeth II’s 90th birthday (on April 21), at the British High Commissioner’s residence.
Later this week, the royal couple is scheduled for a safari in Kaziranga National Park in Assam and a visit to the Taj Mahal in Agra in Uttar Pradesh.
