England's Prince William is planning to visit China in early 2015 at the invitation of the Chinese government.

Although William's wife, the Duchess of Cambridge Kate Middleton, is invited as well it is unlikely she will attend as she will be late in the pregnancy of their second child, reports the BBC.

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The trip will be considered the most significant British royal visit to the country in almost 30 years, when Queen Elizabeth and her husband Prince Philip traveled there in 1986. It was during this visit when Prince Philip made one of his trademark cultural gaffes , telling a group of British students studying in China that "If you stay here much longer, you'll all be slitty-eyed."

Meeting with China's top officials is something Prince William's father, Prince Charles, has yet to do. He has met a Chinese president in the U.K. and one of his charities has a base in Beijing.

But attempts to visit China have been hurt by his friendship with the Dalai Lama, reports the BBC. The Dalai Lama is considered by the Chinese government to be a separatist threat.

TagsU.K.'s Prince William to Visit China in Early 2015, Kate Middleton, visit China