King Charles, Prince William pay tribute to ex-British soldier Nirmal Purja killed in Pakistan avalanche

King Charles III and Prince William paid tribute to Nepal-born British mountaineer Nirmal Purja after he was killed in an avalanche on Pakistan's Broad Peak.

Purja, known as 'Nims Dai', was leading an expedition when the avalanche struck, killing him and several team members; two climbers remain missing.

King Charles praised Purja's courage and record-breaking expeditions, noting his influence extended beyond mountaineering.

Prince William called Purja 'one of the world's greatest mountaineers' and noted he 'put Nepalese climbers on the map' through his achievements.

Search and rescue operations for the missing climbers are ongoing but hampered by heavy snowfall and hazardous terrain.