Royal Table Tennis Match in Cardiff
The Prince and Princess of Wales took each other on in a game of table tennis this afternoon as they met with Windrush elders in Cardiff.
Dressed for the Occasion
Dressed in a £549 navy pinstripe jacket from Holland Cooper and matching wide-leg navy trousers, Kate, 41, teamed up with a young woman at the Grange Pavilion as the pair took on the Prince of Wales (who had also found a dedicated teammate).
Competitive Royals at Play
The famously competitive couple beamed as they took each other on in a doubles match during their engagement, which saw them meet with migrants from the Windrush Generation who settled in Wales, on the 75th anniversary of the arrival of HMT Empire Windrush to the UK.
Kate’s Stylish Outfit
Alongside her chic, tailored suit, which is the same outfit she wore to welcome Apple CEO Tim Cook to Windsor Castle last week, the Princess opted for a white body underneath the outfit.
She wore her brunette locks in loose curls hanging down her shoulders.
A Glimpse into Their Competitive Nature
The couple have a reputation for being competitive with one another, which they recently opened up about on Mike Tindall’s podcast, where they compared themselves to Monica from hit sitcom Friends – and said their table tennis games can ‘go on for hours’ and become a ‘mental game’ between the two of them.
Warm Welcome from Schoolchildren
The royal couple were greeted with a huge crowd of schoolchildren from schools which have included Windrush lessons in the curriculum to teach pupils about how the Windrush generation shaped society in the UK.
Their royal highnesses shook hands with the young royal fans, while also giving some pupils a little fist-bump or a high five.
Engagement with Windrush Community
Among Kate and William’s engagements today are a visit to the Grange Pavilion in Grangetown, where they are meeting members from groups including the Windrush Cymru Elders, Black History Cymru 365, and the Ethnic Minority Youth Forum for Wales.
Transformation of the Grange Pavilion
The Grange Pavilion is a partnership project between Grange Pavilion Project, Grangetown Community Action, Cardiff University, and Cardiff Council which saw them redevelop a previously vacant bowls pavilion into a community facility.
The space offers a community café, employment and training opportunities and has become a key meeting place for the Ethnic Minority Youth Forum, Windrush Cymru Elders, and Black History Cymru 365 for Wales.
Learning from Elders and Youth
The Windrush Cymru Elders group was established in 2017 as part of Race Council Cymru and aims to promote the understanding of ethnic minority elders’ concerns and needs whilst also celebrating the contributions of the Windrush Generation and people of African descent in Wales.
The Prince and Princess heard about the lived experiences of the elders and the impact the generation has had in Wales since their arrival 75 years ago.
Youth Engagement and Community Building
As well as the Elders, Their Royal Highnesses are spending time with the Ethnic Minority Youth Forum which is a youth advisory panel for Race Council Cymru and consists of young people aged 11-25 who seek to be a voice of change for young people from minority ethnic groups in Wales.
Engaging with the Somali Community
Finally, The Prince and Princess will also engage with local young people from the Somali community which forms a large portion of Grangetown.
Their Royal Highnesses will spend time with members of Wales Somaliland Youth Links and Cardiff Bay Warriors FC and hear about the community projects they have been involved in – from football to youth unemployment and building friendships between the young people in Cardiff and Somaliland.
Discussion on Competitiveness
Appearing recently on the Good, the Bad and the Ugly podcast, William, alongside an animated Kate and Princess Anne, joined former England rugby ace Mike Tindall, 44, who is married to Zara, the Princess Royal’s daughter, on his show.
The discussion at Windsor Castle touched on the subject of competitiveness and how it affects their family, including their children.