Kanpur:

A city-based young business entrepreneur got a chance of meeting Prince Williams and Princess Kate at a party hosted by the British high commissioner in India on Monday evening. The party had been thrown at the official residence of British High Commissioner in Delhi to celebrate the upcoming 90th birthday of Queen Elizabeth II.

Utsav Kasera, an alumnus of University of Edinburgh, was one among very few alumni of the UK-based universities who had been invited to take part in the pompous party. Utsav not only got a chance to shake hands with both Prince Williams and Princess Kate but also was lucky when the Princess interacted with him.

“I started off the conversation by mentioning before Princess Kate that I am your neighbour to which she asked me how. I then told her that while I had studied in University of Edinburgh and she had studied in University of St Andrews both of which are situated in Scotland,” said Utsav while talking to TOI.

He said that Princess Kate replied that Edinburgh is a beautiful city and further questioned him that how many times he had been there. “I replied that I had been to Edinburgh city many times,” said Utsav, a 34-year-old young entrepreneur.

He also mentioned that Princess said that she really miss her university days.

“I could not interact with Prince Williams but we shook hands. It was a pleasant meeting them both,” said Utsav, who is a resident of Vishnupuri locality in the city and runs his family business of chemicals.

He said that Prince Williams recalled that his grandmother had visited India thrice and emphasized how important India is for them.

The party which started off at 5.15pm lasted for about three hours. The party was attended by a small but decent gathering of politicians, diplomats and alumni of UK-based universities. Utsav also got a chance to meet Dr Farooq Abdullah, former chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir.

SK Kasera, Utsav’s father was also an excited lot that his son had met the Prince and the Princess and that he was among very few who could attend the party.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News Home> City> Kanpur / by Abhinvan Malhatra / TNN / April 13th, 2016