It was perhaps the most poignant and defining moment of Prince William and Kate's tour of India – following in the footsteps of Diana, Princess of Wales with a visit to the Taj Mahal. And the couple were clearly struck by the beauty of the sacred mausoleum, also known as the "monument of love".
As they emerged from their private tour on Saturday afternoon, William and Kate were faced by reporters asking what the visit meant to them.
"It's a beautiful place, stunning designs in there," said the Prince, who just minutes earlier had recreated his late mother's pose and sat on Lady Di's Chair outside the Taj Mahal with his wife Kate.
© Photo: Getty Images"It's a beautiful place, stunning designs in there," said William
"It's been really incredible to learn about the romance of the building, and really beautiful architecture," added Kate.
The couple began their visit to the Taj with a short photocall, which lasted less than a minute. The Duke and Duchess posed on the same bench that Diana famously sat on in 1992, when she was visiting the monument by herself without Prince Charles.
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William and Kate then headed inside, where they saw the tombs of Murghal emperor Shah Jahan and Mumtaz Mahal, the beloved wife he commissioned the Taj for in 1631 as a symbol of his eternal love.
© Photo: Getty Images"It's been really incredible to learn about the romance of the building," added Kate
William is very much aware of the huge esteem his mother Diana is held in India, and appreciates the iconic status of the photographs that exist of the Princess at the Taj.
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A spokesperson for Kensington Palace previously said that William feels "incredibly lucky" to visit a place where his mother's memory is kept alive by so many who travel there.
On Saturday a royal source explained the reason behind William and Kate's desire to see the Taj in person.
© Photo: Getty ImagesA source said the visit was about "looking forward and creating new memories"
"They wanted to come to the Taj because it is one of the wonders of the world," the source said. "It's a very good way to finish the tour by promoting one of India's greatest sights.
"The Duke is completely aware of the history of this place with his family and he appreciates that a lot of people who come here have his mother in mind. But this is about the future for them, it's about looking forward and creating new memories."
A source close to William added: "For the Duke of Cambridge, his mother's visit to the Taj Mahal is not a particularly strong memory at all. He has many other memories of his mother that are much more important to him."
