Kate set to welcome President Tony Tan to Britain

[LONDON] Prince William's wife Kate is schedulued to welcome Singaporean President Tony Tan to Britain later this month, Buckingham Palace said Friday, in her first engagement since falling victim to severe morning sickness.

Kate and William are set to give Tan a formal welcome to Britain when he begins a state visit on October 21, the palace said.

While it is intended that the Duchess of Cambridge takes part, her attendance will be reviewed closer to the time in light of her condition.

The royal couple are to greet the president and his wife at a London hotel and then travel with them to the Horse Guards Parade ground, where Tan will receive a full ceremonial welcome.

Kate, who is expecting her second child, has once again been suffering hyperemesis gravidarum, which she experienced during her pregnancy with Prince George.

A string of engagements were scrapped after it was announced on September 8 that the duchess was pregnant again and had the severe morning sickness illness.

William stood in for her last month on what would have been her first official solo trip abroad, representing Queen Elizabeth II at the 50th anniversary celebrations of Malta's independence from Britain.

Singapore gained independence from Britain in 1963 and immediately became part of Malaysia, which it then left in 1965. The visit comes shortly ahead of its 50th anniversary celebrations in 2015.

William, second in line to the throne, and Kate visited Singapore in 2012 as part of Queen Elizabeth's diamond jubilee celebrations marking her 60 years on the throne and as head of the Commonwealth. - AFP