HERE’S HOW TO DO IT, HARRY!
William and Kate get stuck in with a day of play – and pets – for Mental Health Awareness Week
ROYAL duties aren’t for everyone – but William and Kate seemed to enjoy themselves yesterday.
As Harry extolled the virtues of his new life in California, the future king spent the day in Wolverhampton.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge tried their hands at archery, table tennis and gardening with customary good humour. Kate also got to grips with a guinea pig and – more daringly – a dragon.
The couple’s fun began at The Way Youth Zone, where one tongue-tied boy was unsure how to address the duke. The royal advised him to use ‘my name, which is William’, adding: ‘If you call me Dave, I probably won’t answer!’
Given his impending 39th birthday next month, the prince seemed slightly uncomfortable at a youth club. ‘We are still calling ourselves young, but we are not,’ he admitted. Along with her husband, Kate – who looked radiant in a Catherine Walker coat and £380 Tory Burch polkadot blouse – turns 40 next year.
William was all right with a football, saying after his attempt at keepy-uppies: ‘I’ve got no left foot all.’ The duchess gave archery her all – despite the Royal Family’s past problems with bows and arrows. Sadly she missed the target entirely, with a shot she described as ‘terrible’.
The couple reunited for ping pong, before heading off to make some more
‘I’ve got no left foot at all’
new friends. William and Kate were introduced to Gus the guinea pig at a children’s therapy session run by HugglePets in the Community, which uses animals to help children with anxiety to discuss their mental health issues.
Gus was followed by something more exotic, as Kate was handed Barbara the bearded dragon lizard.
‘Wow, look at this guy,’ William remarked. ‘He’s so cool – I’ve never heard of a bearded dragon before. I love its spikes. Anything with the with the word dragon I love... my boy George would love it.’
As part of their visit to mark Mental Health Awareness Week, the Cambridges also visited the youth charity Base 25. The organisation works with children as young as 11, offering counselling and support for victims of sexual exploitation, domestic violence and gangs.