The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have arrived in Pakistan for a five-day visit which aims to focus on strengthening ties and addressing challenges such as climate change.

The royal couple disembarked from a British Royal Air Force plane at Nur Khan Airforce base in Rawalpindi, near the capital Islamabad, on Monday night.

Kate embraced Pakistani tradition by wearing an ombre Catherine Walker gown which nodded to the shalwar kameez, a dress or tunic worn over trousers, while Prince William wore a navy suit with a blue tie.

The couple, emerging after an eight-hour flight, were greeted by Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi and Thomas Drew, the British High Commissioner, and were given bouquets of flowers by two children.

The tour will be William and Kate’s first official visit to Pakistan and their “most complex” tour to date, according to Kensington Palace, referring to political tensions and security concerns in the region.

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More than 1,000 Pakistani police officers will be deployed to secure the Duke and Duchess’ safety during their stay.

Their trip, which was requested by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, comes during heightened tensions between Pakistan and India over the disputed region of Kashmir, which both countries are claiming in full.

William and Kate’s trip will pay respect to the historical relationship between Britain and Pakistan and “will largely focus on showcasing Pakistan as it is today – a dynamic, aspirational and forward-looking nation”, the Palace said.

However details of the couple’s engagements will be announced on the day due to security considerations. The couple’s three children have stayed at home.

The tour, which lasts until Friday, will span more than 1,000km of the country, including Islamabad, the city of Lahore, the mountainous countryside in the north and border regions to the west.

William is hoping to create his own legacy in a country visited by both of his parents.

The tour comes 13 years after the last official royal visit to Pakistan when Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, visited the country in 2006.

Foreign Minister Mr Qureshi earlier said that the people of Pakistan still adore Princess Diana, who visited the country in the 1990s to participate in a fund-raising event for a cancer hospital built by now-prime minister Imran Khan.

Mr Khan is set to meet the royal couple during the visit.

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