Prince William to visit Japan and China next year

LONDON: Prince William will visit Japan and China early next year at the request of the British government, but the Duchess will not risk the trip because of her pregnancy, it was announced today.

Duke will spend three days in each country in February and March at the request of the government. He will visit cities including Tokyo, Beijing and Shanghai.

His visit will be the most high-profile royal visit to China since the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh toured the country in 1986.

But Chinese and Japanese officials will be disappointed that the "Duchess, who is due to give birth in April, will not be by his side, Kensington Palace said today.

The NHS advises pregnant women that most airlines will not allow them to fly beyond 36 weeks of pregnancy, which for the Duchess will fall some time in March.

For the Duke, the visit to China will be a valuable chance to promote his favourite cause - a crackdown on the illegal trade in wildlife parts - in the country that is the biggest market for many products made from poached ivory, rhino horn and other body parts of endangered species.