William tries his hand at badminton

THE Duke of Cambridge found his competitive side as he joined a game of badminton doubles with young people in Birmingham.

William met directors of Sports Key, a charity which provides a range of sporting activities for disadvantaged communities, at a sports centre in the city yesterday.

The charity hopes to improve the social cohesion, wellbeing and life opportunities of the city’s young people through the power of sport and activity.

The duke was later shown around a badminton tournament that was being held by the charity, and was invited to join in a doubles game.

After receiving some initial guidance from his doubles partner, he shouted, “Look out you two!” over the net, laughing.

Starting off with some obvious trepidation, William then appeared to become very invested in the game.

When his partner narrowly missed a shot, he insisted on one more round.

Sports Key is one of the organisations that are helping to deliver the Birmingham Commonwealth Games’ Gen22 project.

The flagship project was awarded £700,000 this year from the National Lottery Fund.

Blondel Cluff, CBE, chair of the National Lottery Community Fund, said: “It is a pleasure to be in Birmingham today meeting with staff and volunteers from Sports Key and Gen22 alongside the Duke of Cambridge.

“It has been fantastic to see the huge difference these projects are having on young people’s lives.”