The Prince and Princess of Wales sparred during their Tuesday visit to south Wales during a lunchtime spin class after they both laughed about Catherine planting some Sweet William seeds.
Catherine beat her husband William in the 45-second race despite donning a midi skirt and high heels, and she was awarded a gold cup.
Wales has a special place in Prince William and Princess Catherine’s hearts, as is well known.
The Prince later said: “This island has been our first home together, and it will always be an immensely special place for us both.” The couple spent the early years of their marriage in Anglesey.
And when their oldest children, Prince George and Princess Charlotte, visited Cardiff Castle during the Platinum Jubilee celebrations in June 2022, they were able to share their love of the nation.
There’s no denying that the royals were eager to leave on Tuesday morning for south Wales.
William and Catherine traveled to meet with local communities and support mental health initiatives.
To learn firsthand about the work the Brynawel Rehabilitation Centre does to assist those dealing with the effects of drug and alcohol addiction, they paid a visit there on their first outing. A new “therapy allotment” was also being planned, with assistance from their Royal Foundation.
In a long cream camel coat, black boots, gloves, a white roll-neck, and a monochromatic pattern skirt for the engagement, Catherine looked stunning. She also carried a tiny black clutch and, like her husband, wore a daffodil on her lapel.
The Prince and Princess met Center clients and their families while they were there, and they also learned how the current garden facilities and the outdoors are used as part of the therapy.
The couple spoke with trustees Marc Penny and Dai McBride as well as recovery manager Claire Holloway. They were also welcomed by Ragnar, a seven-year-old Great Dane who serves as a therapy dog. While patting Ragnar, William remarked on his “big ears,” and Catherine remarked, “He must be very popular.”
When William learned that Catherine had been given “Sweet William” seeds to plant, he couldn’t help but laugh. Catherine was assisted by volunteer gardener Vanessa Townsend, who informed her: “They’ll bloom after two years. I’ll see to it that you get some.”
Catherine received a bouquet of daffodils from two-year-old Cora Phillips as the royal family got ready to leave. “Oh my goodness, I did not expect that in a million years,” Cora’s mother Michelle Phillips of Llanharan exclaimed.
She said, turning to face her daughter: “Just now, we met a princess. That’s something we won’t ever forget.”
Six therapy gardens and allotments will be built over time by Life at No. 27 in South Wales to provide local communities with mental health support.
The Prince and Princess went on to the Aberavon Leisure and Fitness Center to learn more about how physical activity and sport can promote mental health and wellbeing.
A large indoor sports hall where young people and Welsh professional athletes like Harrison Walsh and Hannah Brier participated in an athletics and gymnastics session was one of the facilities the couple toured at the center. A spin studio and a 25-meter swimming pool with eight lanes and a movable floor are additional amenities.
William apologized for ruining the cyclists’ spin class as he entered the cycling area.
The Prince made fun of his wife by saying, “You have high heels on,” before getting on his bike.
Not sure I’m dressed for this, the princess exclaimed as she spoke while donning a cream top, a checked skirt, and black boots.
Catherine changed the gears while racing and chuckled, “Can I make it harder?”
After he was done, William laughed and said, “Talk to you in a minute.”
According to Kensington Palace, the Prince of Wales has been named the charity’s new royal patron.
Prior to William and Catherine’s visit to the charity’s headquarters in Llanelli, on their last stop of the day, the patronage was made public.
Since the King bestowed upon William the title of Prince of Wales, this is the first Welsh patronage that has been announced for him.
The Wales Air Ambulance charity, which was established in 2001, has finished nearly 45,000 missions and is available round-the-clock, every day of the year.
William was a helicopter pilot with the RAF Search and Rescue Force stationed at RAF Valley on Anglesey and an air ambulance pilot for the East Anglian Air Ambulance.
