Sporty Kate Middleton swapped her smart blazer for a preppy jumper as she took part in a tennis session in Edinburgh today.
The Duchess of Cambridge, a keen sportswoman, was ready to play in her recycled £90 Ralph Lauren cable knit sweatshirt, black trousers and £55 Superga trainers.
William, 38, and Kate, 39, met children from Canal View Primary School on the visit to Craiglockhart Tennis Centre and heard more about the work of the Lawn Tennis Association, of which the Duchess is patron.
William rolled up his sleeves and took off his jacket as he stepped onto the court but only Kate picked up a racket to play. The Duchess offered pointers to the youngsters and joined one group for a friendly game of doubles.
It is the second stop on a busy day of engagements for the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge as their week-long tour of Scotland comes to an end.
Earlier the couple visited Starbank Park where they helped nursery school children scatter plant seeds that will attract butterflies.
The Duchess of Cambridge, a keen sportswoman, looked in her element as she joined local schoolchildren on the court at Craiglockhart Tennis Centre
Anyone for a spot of tennis? The Duchess of Cambridge recycled a Ralph Lauren jumper for the outing today
Sporty Kate looked ready to play in her black trousers, Ralph Lauren jumper and £55 Superga trainers
She was joined at the event by Prince William, 38, who rolled up his sleeves but did not pick up a racket
It is the second stop on a busy day of engagements for the couple. Earlier the couple spent time with local children at Edinburgh’s Starbank Park, where they planted flowers for bees and got stuck in with gardening
Polished pair: The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge looked smartly dressed for the outing to Starbank Park today
The Duchess of Cambridge cooed over Penelope Stewart on the visit to Starbank Park, in Edinburgh, today
They also spent time with teenagers planting sunflowers as part of their Duke of Edinburgh Award.
At one point Kate and William both put on gardening gloves and helped children with planting a garden. As Kate gave the youngsters tips, William joked she was getting ‘free labour’.
The green-fingered royal also revealed she ‘loves weeding’ in a conversation with one girl.
Starbank Park is run by the City of Edinburgh Council and protected by Fields in Trust which has William as its president, a role previously held by his grandfather the Duke of Edinburgh.
The couple heard about the trust’s Green Space Index, an annual barometer of green space provision and distribution across the UK, and chatted to volunteers and families about the importance of the park to the local community.
The index identifies the provision of green spaces and this year’s report found more than 2.77 million people live further than a 10-minute walk from a local park or green space, and only 6% of all parks and green spaces are protected in perpetuity.
Prince William and Kate will return to London later today after spending a week in Scotland. The visit is part of a broader royal charm offensive to help persuade Scotland to resist the demands of nationalists for independence.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge spent time chatting to the youngsters at Craiglockhart Tennis Centre, in Edinburgh
The Duchess of Cambridge played friendly doubles with some of the schoolgirls at the event this morning
The keen sportswoman was ready to get involved in the session, which was run by the Lawn Tennis Association
The Duke of Sussex kept his blazer on but the Duchess changed into a Ralph Lauren jumper for the outing
Nice job! The Duchess of Cambridge bumps fists with a schoolboy as she joins children for a tennis session today
Kate Middleton appeared in excellent spirits as she chatted with the schoolchildren. Right, speaking to one little girl
The Duchess of Cambridge appeared to be giving pointers to one young tennis player during the session today
Yesterday the couple delighted a small Scottish coastal town by popping in for a fish supper at the chippy they frequented as students at St Andrews 20 years ago.
The couple ordered a £7.95 takeaway haddock supper, wrapped in paper, which they ate on a bench on the pier. They went back for ice creams – William’s in a cup, Kate’s in a cone – and chatted to staff, with Kate saying it had been a ‘trip down memory lane’.
It was a day full of nostalgia for the couple with events centered around the university where they met as freshers.
The Cambridges arrived in St Andrews on Tuesday night, the day before their engagements in the town, and enjoyed a private ‘date night’ dinner at Forgan’s restaurant where they were seated in a ‘secluded’ corner table.
After staying locally, rather than at the Queen’s Edinburgh residence of Holyroodhouse, the couple enjoyed a morning of land yacht racing on a St Andrews beach.
Later they met students and toured university grounds before making the short drive to the coastal village of Pittenweem to meet local fishermen and their families.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge were presented with a gift to take away during the visit to the park today
The Duchess of Cambridge was delighted to speak to the youngsters from the Edinburgh nursery
Kate Middleton was animated as she discussed gardening on the visit to the park this morning
Kate Middleton and Prince William spoke to little Penelope Stewart (left). Right, Kate talks to a little girl in the park
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge also learned more about work to improve access to green spaces across the UK
At the end of these official engagements, the Cambridges continued on to Anstruther, just four minutes’ drive away. After their fish and chips they were met by a royal helicopter, which landed in the children’s park, and flown back to the Palace of Holyroodhouse to host a special drive-in screening of Disney’s Cruella for NHS staff.
Before the screening, Kate delivered a short speech in which she paid tribute to NHS staff across Scotland and thanked them for their dedication, commitment and personal sacrifice.
She said: ‘As Joint Patrons of NHS Charites Together, William and I are absolutely delighted that so many of you could join us here tonight. We wanted to thank you for the extraordinary dedication, commitment and personal sacrifice you have shown in supporting our communities through this pandemic.
Fancy a shot? A schoolgirl shows off her hula-hooping skills in font of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge who looked on
Green-fingered Kate, who enjoys gardening at home, got stuck in with the activity at Starbank Park in Edinburgh
The Duke of Cambridge went exploring in the park, which includes a small gardening area
The Duchess of Cambridge spoke to one little boy from Edzell Nursery during the visit today
Getting stuck in: William, 38, and Kate, 39, spoke to the children about gardening and getting out in the park
The Duchess of Cambridge looked polished in a green blazer as she joined Prince William in Starbank Park, Edinburgh, today
The Duchess of Cambridge crouched down to speak to a little girl from Edzell Nursery during the visit
The Duchess of Cambridge put on a pair of gardening gloves and got stuck in with the planting at the park
‘It is a real privilege to work with NHS Charities Together. For the last 13 years it has worked tirelessly to improve services for patients and support NHS staff and volunteers, both practically and emotionally. Today, this work has never been more important.
‘So, with an enormous thank you to Her Majesty The Queen for allowing us to host the first-ever drive-in film night here at Holyrood. And with a huge thank you to Disney and BAFTA, for putting on this evening, and to the fabulous actress Tipper for joining us here tonight, William and I invite you to grab your popcorn, cuddle up under your blankets and be transported to 1970s Britain for an evening of much-deserved fun, drama, glamour and escapism!’
Disney is giving Cruella de Vil the live-action treatment with its anticipated new film Cruella, starring Emma Stone as the sinister protagonist, Tipper Seifert-Cleveland as ‘young Cruella’ and Emma Thompson as Baroness von Hellman.
Local haunt: William, 38, and Kate, 39, popped into the award-winning Anstruther Fish Bar, in the coastal town of Anstruther, some 20 miles east of Fife, where they were ‘regular customers’ while students at St Andrews 20 years ago
The couple ordered a £7.95 takeaway haddock supper, wrapped in paper, which they ate on a bench on the pier. They returned for ice creams – William’s in a cup, Kate’s in a cone – before returning to Edinburgh by helicopter
Kate Middleton continued her Scottish-themed wardrobe, sporting a full-length tartan trench coat to host NHS Charities Together and NHS staff at the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh with Prince William
The couple arrived to greet their guests in a Land Rover Defender that previously belonged to Prince Philip, who passed away aged 99 on April 9
Plenty to smile about! The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge today returned to the University of St Andrews where they met as students 20 years ago. The couple were in excellent spirits despite the rain
University sweethearts: Prince William and Kate Middleton on the day of their graduation ceremony in 2005
Head-to-head: Duke and Duchess of Cambridge sailed down the sand at West Sands Beach, St Andrews, this morning