The Wales's last major joint royal tour was the Caribbean in March 2022. That tour is now known as the Flop Tour. Crowds were thin. A fence handshake became one of the most photographed images of the year. The optics were widely described as colonial. The tour generated significant criticism and very little diplomatic goodwill. It was followed by silence on the joint tour front for over four years.
In that time Harry and Meghan have been to New York, to the Invictus Games in Dusseldorf and Vancouver, to Nigeria, to Colombia, to Ukraine, to Jordan and to Australia. Each trip generated standing ovations, sold-out products, millions in media impact value, meaningful meetings with heads of government, veterans, survivors and communities, and the kind of coverage that demonstrates genuine popular connection rather than managed optics.
The Australian tour in April generated fifty-one point six million dollars of Media Impact Value in four days.
The Mirror reports that following the success of Kate's Italy trip this week, plans are being made for William and Kate to travel to India in November for Earthshot in Mumbai and diplomatic meetings in Delhi.
Italy happened this week. It was two days. It was hastily organised after Australia according to multiple royal experts. The most positive thing a sympathetic Telegraph columnist could say about it was that it was charming.
India is now on the calendar for November.
I want to note something about the India plan specifically. The FCO has apparently decided that the timing is now right following years of the visit being deemed too diplomatically sensitive due to India's close ties to Russia. That geopolitical assessment has not changed. India's relationship with Russia has not fundamentally shifted. What has changed is the urgency inside Kensington Palace to demonstrate that the Wales's can do what Harry and Meghan have been doing for six years.
The Mirror also reports that William might travel to the United States alone if England reaches the World Cup final in New Jersey on July 19th. He will not be going to the World Cup as a diplomatic representative. He will be going to watch football. In a country that could be an important diplomatic destination for the future King of England in one of its most significant anniversary years. To watch sport.
The India tour press release describes Kate as feeling well and energised and blown away by the reception in Italy and returning home full of excitement and deeply inspired by the warmth care and sense of community she experienced.
She made tortellini.
She received an award for being popular.
She wore Meghan's California designer.
She made clay figures after Meghan made clay figures in Melbourne.
And now India is on the calendar.
For November.
After four years of silence on major joint tours.
Three weeks after Australia generated fifty-one point six million dollars.
You lit a fuse under them said the person who sent you this article.
The fuse has been lit.
The calendar now has India on it.
And Meghan is in Geneva.
With the WHO.
For the children.