The Duke & Duchess of Cambridge to visit Leicester City

22 November 2018, 16:16 | Updated: 22 November 2018, 17:21

Leicester City Football Club are going to host The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge on Wednesday 28 November, as King Power Stadium prepares for its first royal visit.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are to make a poignant visit to Leicester to pay tribute to those who were tragically killed in the helicopter crash at Leicester City Football Club.

Kensington Palace said William and Kate knew the club's chairman Vichai Srivaddhanaprabh, and wanted to visit the city to recognise the warmth and compassion shown by the people of Leicester and fans of the club.

William, who is president of the Football Association, and Kate will visit the tribute site near the stadium, before meeting players and members of the club's management team on Wednesday November 28.

The duke and duchess will also meet volunteers and club supporters who helped to relocate the thousands of tributes which were left outside the front of the stadium to the special site.

Afterwards, William and Kate will visit King Power Stadium itself where they will meet with representatives from local charities who were supported by Mr Srivaddhanaprabha.

He was killed along with four others when the aircraft came down after a match on October 27.

The royal couple will also visit the University of Leicester to hear about the educational programmes the football club has helped support and the impact of a £1 million donation by Mr Srivaddhanaprabha which was used to fund medical research and training.

William and Kate will also meet the people of Leicester in the University's Centenary Square.

The duke paid tribute to Mr Srivaddhanaprabha following the crash, describing him as "a businessman of strong values who was dedicated to his family and who supported a number of important charitable causes."

William added: "He made such a big contribution to football, not least through Leicester City's magical 2016 season that captured the imagination of the world.

"He will be missed by all fans of the sport and everyone lucky enough to have known him."

Two members of Mr Srivaddhanaprabha's staff - Kaveporn Punpare and Nusara Suknamai also died in the crash, alongside pilot Eric Swaffer and his partner Izabela Roza Lechowicz.