London: Britain’s Kate Middleton was greeted by a cheering crowd of British Indians during a visit to mark the festival of Holi in Leicester last week, where she enjoyed some chai and mithai.
The Princess of Wales’ Kensington Palace office said the solo tour to the eastern England city symbolized a celebration of the “culture, community and heritage of the British Indian community in Leicester”.
Kate was welcomed at the Belgrave Neighborhood Centre with a garland made of roses and pearls, showcasing the message of “spring, love, color and new life” associated with the Hindu festival.
Following the entertainment, the senior royal made her way to family-run businesses on Belgrave Road in Leicester – famous as the city’s “Golden Mile” with reference to its gold jewellery stores.
“The Golden Mile is famous for having one of the highest concentrations of Indian jewellery, sarees, and fashion boutiques in the UK and is a vibrant hub for South Asian culture, offering authentic cuisine, sweets, and chai shops.
After having tea at Bobby’s Restaurant, Kate paid a visit to the Shreeji Dham Haveli temple – dedicated to the teachings of Shrimad Vallabhacharya Mahaprabhuji and serving the local Vaishnav community.
