William and Kate to pay respects at centre where Mahatma Gandhi was assassinated

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will pay their respects to India's founding father Mahatma Gandhi today when their tour of India takes them to New Delhi.

William and Kate are on a seven-day tour of India and Bhutan which began yesterday with the Duke praising the Asian nation's rich heritage.

During a glittering Bollywood gala dinner in Mumbai the Duke told the guests who included some if India's leading actors: "Catherine and I embark on a journey to get to know the vibrant India of the 21st century.

"An India whose traditions, culture and civilisation go back thousands of years, and yet co-exist with an India that is young, creative, entrepreneurial - an economic, cultural and political powerhouse, and an established democracy under the rule of law."

The Duke and Duchess will visit the Gandhi museum in Old Birla House where the statesman was assassinated in 1948.

They - like other visitors to the centre - will follow Gandhi's final footsteps from his humble bedroom to the spot in the garden where he was killed and pay their respects at the memorial that marks the location before watch a choral performance from a group of young people.

The Cambridges' day will begin in Mumbai with them meeting aspiring young entrepreneurs at a UK Government Great campaign event at a bar, restaurant and collaborative workspace called The Social.

The city has a thriving young business scene and the Great campaign promotes the UK across the globe.

In Delhi the royal couple's itinerary will begin with them laying a wreath at India Gate, a towering red standstone monument which is the country's main war memorial.

The day will end with the Cambridges attending a birthday party for the Queen, who turns 90 on April 21, at the residence of the British High Commissioner.

William is expected to pay tribute to his grandmother with a speech to the invited guests.