Bearing fruit

The Duke of Cambridge was yesterday presented with an avocado to help with his wife’s morning sickness by a four-year-old boy.

Prince William was given the gift by Archie Weatherall, whose mother is suffering from the same condition as the Duchess of Cambridge, as he arrived at Guinea Gap Leisure Centre in Wallasey, Wirral. Christina Lahive, the head teacher, said: “William said he had never been given an avocado before and he said good luck to Archie with his new brother or sister.”

Earlier in the day the Duke visited Aintree University Hospital in Liverpool, where he spoke to patients about his son starting school and shared a joke with patient Theresa Jones, 87, above, in the hospital’s frailty assessment unit.

“Most of the parents are in floods of tears and the children are absolutely fine,” he told her, and added: “George rules the roost and Charlotte isn’t far behind.”