The Roy-ale visit
Duke and Duchess show off their skills at Windsor Park
KATE and William proved real winners as they kicked off their visit to the North with a game of football.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge were on opposing sides yesterday during a high-energy match with local schoolchildren in Belfast. And they made quite an impression with the youngsters at Windsor Park. Igor Lackis, nine, said he had been impressed by the couple’s skills. He added: “They were pretty good, both of them were really good. I blocked the prince’s shots attempting to score.” Yesterday’s itinerary also included a visit to an outdoor activity centre in Co Fermanagh, before finishing off with a pint at the iconic Empire in Belfast’s Botanic Avenue.
The tour of the recently redeveloped National Stadium marked the first engagement on what is the couple’s third official visit to Northern Ireland.
They had a go at dribbling drills to the delight of the young players.
Kate ran around a marked-out square, keeping the ball under control, and also jogged up and down on the spot.
At one point, the duchess hugged and comforted nine-year-old Jasmine Andrews after she became emotional about the occasion.
A pupil at Fane Street Primary School, Jasmine later revealed how Kate had made her smile through the tears.
She said: “I got a little bit nervous and started to cry and she asked me was I a little bit shy and I said, ‘I am’, and she said that she used to be shy when she was little too.” During their tour of the venue, the couple also met footballing legend Pat Jennings.
William and Kate were shown a bronze cast print of the former Tottenham and Arsenal keeper’s celebrated “safe hands” as they walked through the stadium’s heritage centre.
As the Duke extended his arm to shake Jennings’ hand, he said: “Now there’s a man who needs no introduction.”
William later put his own hands in the print, remarking to the recordbreaking keeper: “You have really long fingers.”
Afterwards, Jennings praised the attitude of the royals. He said: “They
They are a special couple to come & do what they did today PAT JENNINGS WINDSOR PARK YESTERDAY
are a special couple to come and do what they did today, entertained us and the kids.
“They have given not only us but the kids a day they will never forget.”
Northern Ireland manager Michael O’neill accompanied the couple on their tour of the venue.
He added: “They are so personable, easy to chat to and made everybody feel relaxed.”
As they left the stadium three schoolchildren presented the couple with three green Northern Ireland home shirts with the names of their children George, Charlotte and Louis on the back. Later, at the Roscor Youth Village in Enniskillen, Kate and William went head-to-head in a race on Lough Erne.
They were part of two teams which raced in Canadian canoes, with William’s boat crowned the winner. On the visit to the centre, which is run by the charity Extern, Kate also helped assemble a tent before taking part in a game of archery.
And then it was on to the Empire where Kate was all smiles as she pulled a pint of Harp with Wills laughing in the background. The pair were greeted by cheering crowds at the Botanic Avenue venue.
They were given an official welcome by Lord Lieutenant of Belfast Fionnuala Jayo’boyle.
Moving inside, they met former Olympian Dame Mary Peters, who was earlier appointed to the Order of the Garter, as well as a number of young people from her trust, which helps aspiring athletes.