Britain's Prince William has started a five-day tour of the Middle East. His schedule includes a visit to Israel and Palestinian territories. The Duke of Cambridge is the first British royal family member to officially visit since Israel was granted statehood in 1948. Why did it take so long, especially in light of the UK's long-standing ties with Israel and Palestine? Our reporter Stephanie Freid in Jerusalem explains.

It's easy to find remnants of the historic British-Israel connection, from seaside storehouses to streets named after British generals.

STEPHANIE FREID JERUSALEM "The King David hotel here behind me - this is where the prince will be staying and it also has a direct link to the historic ties between Britain and Israel."

It housed British administrative personnel and military officers in pre-State Palestine era.

Israel's statehood is owed to Britain's early 1900's support - Israel's current legal and military systems are modeled after England's.

Prince William's great grandmother, Princess Alice of Batenburg, is buried in East Jerusalem and the list goes on and on.

So why did it take seven decades for a royal visit?

Despite an a-political billing, the 2016 Brexit referendum dented England's global standing - this tour is predicted to enhance the country's Klout.

RICHARD PATER, DIRECTOR BRITISH ISRAEL RESEARCH AND COMMUNICATIONS CENTRE "I think the aspects that the prince would like to emphasize will be meeting with young people - both Jews and Arabs - and perhaps also in the context of co-existence. That despite the difficult process of kind of top-down negotiations by political leaders, there is also a kind of bottom-up approach."

The royal agenda includes meetings with Palestinian and Israeli heads of state, an afternoon mixed Arab Jewish youth football match and a visit to his great grandmother's grave.

STEPHANIE FREID, CGTN, JERUSALEM.