Prince Edward showed off his tennis skills as he visited a 17th century court on Monday.
The royal, 54, was joined by his wife Sophie Wessex on the outing to the Royal Tennis Court in Versailles, France.
The court, named salle du jeu de paume in French, was the site of a key episode in the French Revolution and the foundation of democracy in France.
Prince Edward, 54, was joined by his wife Sophie Wessex on the outing to the Royal Tennis Court in Versailles, France, on Monday. Pictured, he practises his skills on the court
Edward and Sophie were given a tour of the expansive sports hall, situated just a stone’s throw from the Palace of Versailles. They looked engaged as they were told of the history
Edward and Sophie were given a tour of the expansive sports hall, situated just a stone’s throw from the Palace of Versailles.
At one point Edward was handed an old-fashioned racquet and gamely showed off his hand eye co-ordination as he tapped a ball into the air.
He was also seen clutching a modern tennis ball and an old-fashioned one from an unknown period, presumably to see the difference between the two.
The Wessexes, pictured, strolled through the gallery that would have once housed spectators watching the indoor match. It runs along the length of the court
Prince Edward was given a modern tennis ball, right, and what appeared to be an old-fashioned one, left, as he took part in a demonstration at the court
The royal, the Queen’s youngest son, looked smart for the occasion in a double-breasted checked suit, blue shirt and contrasting yellow tie.
Meanwhile Sophie, 53, donned an on-trend snakeskin print dress and covered up with a favourite cream cardigan.
The couple also visited the palace itself, famous as the home to King Louis XIV and his Court.
Jeu de paume, an older version of modern-day tennis, was very popular in the 17th century and played an important part in the education of French princes.
Edward and Sophie were also given a tour of the Palace of Versailles, pictured, just a stone’s throw from the tennis court
Sophie and Edward strolled through the opulent halls of the Palace of Versailles during their visit on Tuesday
The couple, pictured centre, were accompanied on their tour by a number of officials. The court was the site of a key moment in the French Revolution in the 18th Century
King Louis XIV was responsible for the building of the court four years after he moved his Court to Versailles in 1686.
The room, with lofty ceilings and high windows, features what was then a traditional courtside gallery for spectators.
Nearly 100 years after it was built the Royal Tennis Court served as the gathering place for the deputies of the Third Estate, who represented the ‘common people’ in France at the time.
On 20 June 1789 the group met at the court and undertook an oath not to separate until they had endowed France with a written constitution. This became known as the Tennis Court Oath.