The following briefing on the Royal Visit to Israel was sent out today by the British Israel Communications and Research Centre (BICOM) :

On 1 March, Buckingham Palace announced that Prince William, the Duke of Cambridge, will this Summer embark on the first official visit to Israel and the West Bank by a member of the Royal Family.
 
BICOM’s research team has produced a briefing outlining the Prince’s potential itinerary and the history of Royal trips to the Holy Land.
Prince William’s itinerary:  while the itinerary for the trip has not been finalised, it is likely to include:
 
  • A meeting, potentially lunch or dinner, at the Prime Minister’s residence.

    The Jerusalem Channel is guardian of the tree at Israel’s Holocaust Memorial Yad Vashem that was planted in honour of Princess Alice, the mother-in-law of Queen Elizabeth and the great grandmother of Prince William.

  • A formal meeting with Israeli President Reuven Rivlin.
  • A visit to Yad Vashem with an official wreath-laying ceremony
  • The grave of Prince Philip’s mother, and possibly to the British War Memorial on Mount Scopus, at the Mount of Olives.

Prince William, Duke of Cambridge

In addition, the Prince may arrange an event related to civil society or coexistence and visit some holy sites in Jerusalem – such as the Anglican St George’s Cathedral, which was established in 1899 – and other historic religious sites located in the Old City, although these would likely be under the framework of a “private tour.”

During his time in the West Bank, the Prince will have a formal meeting with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and is likely to visit Bethlehem, potentially visiting the Church of the Nativity.

An additional full paper covering many aspects of the Royals and the Holy Land is available to download via the link below.

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