CHITRAL: The photo of Prince William sitting on a rock with the Chiantar glacier in Baroghil in the background during his visit to Chitral on Oct 16, last year, has gone viral, after the Duke of Cambridge released the picture on Instagram at the New Year.

The social media site is brimming with the picture of the Duke gazing at the glacier which has developed fissures over the years triggered by global warming phenomenon, on which he had expressed his deep concerns.

Accompanied by the Duchess of Cambridge, Kate Middleton, he had flown to the valley in the extreme north of Chitral to watch the process of disintegration of the glaciers there. The photograph was reportedly taken by the Duchess.

In the Instagram message, he has sharply expressed his fears about the melting glaciers. “The Earth is at a tipping point and we face a stark choice: either we continue as we are and irreparably damage our planet or we remember our unique power as human beings and our continual ability to lead, innovate and problem solve.

Remember the awe inspiring civilisations that we have built the lifesaving technology we have created, the fact that we have put a man on the moon.

People can achieve great things. And the next ten years present us with one of the greatest tests, a decade of action to repair the Earth,” reads the message below the photograph.

Meanwhile, the local residents felt joy over the selection of Chitral-based snap by the prince. The photograph can also be seen in the printed form on the shops and back screens of vehicles in the city.

Shahzada Sirajul Mulk, a former pilot of the national airline and a member of the hitherto ruling family of Chitral, said the photograph of the prince sitting fearlessly on a piece of rock showed that exemplary peace and tranquility prevailed in the area.

Published in Dawn, January 4th, 2020