Kate's kickabout! Sporty Duchess and William go head-to-head on the football pitch with excited schoolchildren as they arrive for a surprise visit to Belfast
- The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have arrived in Northern Ireland for a surprise two-day visit
- William and Kate are visiting Belfast, Fermanagh and Ballymena on a trip designed to celebrate young people
- They're kicking off the tour with visit to Windsor Park football stadium, home of the Irish Football Association
Sporty Kate was in her element as she and William kicked off a surprise two-day tour of Northern Ireland with a visit to a Belfast football stadium.
The Duchess of Cambridge, 37, couldn't keep the smile from her face as they joined excited schoolchildren for a kickabout at Windsor Park.
Keen to join in the fun, the Duchess ditched her £1,200 Carolina Herrara coat and heeled LK Bennett boots for a classic white cricket jumper and £80 Sweaty Betty x New Balance trainers.
She playfully jostled with her husband on the pitch as they watched a coaching session before impressing with her dribbling skills.
The royals were greeted outside the stadium by crowds of well-wishers. Kate was particularly taken with one toddler wearing a waistcoat and bow tie who she spotted in the crowd. The royal mother-of-three cooed over the spirited youngster and cracked a smile when he cheekily stuck out his tongue.
The couple will spend Wednesday and Thursday carrying out a number of engagements in Belfast, Fermanagh and Ballymena. In keeping with royal visits to Northern Ireland, details were not released in advance and the itinerary was not disclosed for security reasons.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge went head-to-head as they joined youngsters for a game of football at Windsor Park
The Duchess of Cambridge swapped her black heeled booties for trainers as she joined children for a kickabout on the pitch
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have arrived in Belfast for a surprise two-day visit to Northern Ireland. One adorable young well-wisher cheekily stuck out his tongue when the Duchess of Cambridge came over to meet him outside Windsor Park
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have arrived in Northern Ireland for a surprise two-day tour. The couple are kicking off the tour with visit to Windsor Park football stadium, home of the Irish Football Association
Be a lady in red like The Duchess Of Cambridge wearing Carolina Herrera
The Duchess Of Cambridge was a lady in red as she visited Northern Ireland today thanks to her coat by Carolina Herrera.
This bright shade of scarlet always looks great on Kate and we love the nipped in waist, Peter Pan collar and double breasted cut.
In fact, she's worn this very same coat before on both the Royal tour of Canada and a trip to Paris! It's an incredibly timeless piece so we're not surprised Kate has chosen to wear it again.
Kate's coat is sadly not available to buy online but click (right) to shop the designer at NET-A-PORTER. Or why not shop our edit of regal reds below?
We've found similar styles from the likes of Karl Lagerfeld and Rosegal that are perfect for giving a nod to Kate's designer original. Plus, you can also snap up her lace-up similar boots by L.K. Bennett!
Out on the Windsor Park turf, the royals joined in some training exercises with local schoolchildren.
Kate and William both had a go at dribbling drills, to the delight of the young footballers. Kate ran around a marked-out square keeping the ball under control and also jogged up and down on the spot.
She then joined William in a small-sided game, each playing on different sides.
Both participated with gusto, running about with their young teammates, passing and tackling during the well-spirited encounter.
During the visit, the couple learned more about the Irish Football Association's community football projects and its work breaking down some of Northern Ireland's traditional divides through sport.
The Duchess of Cambridge playfully jostled with her husband on the pitch before impressing with her skills
The couple lost control of the ball, left, prompting the Duchess of Cambridge to burst into fits of laughter, right
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge appeared in excellent spirits as they joined children on the pitch in sunny Belfast
The Duchess of Cambridge couldn't keep the smile from her face as she joined her husband and children for the kickabout
Sporty Kate appeared perfectly at ease as she played around with youngsters on the turf at Belfast's Windsor Park
The Duchess of Cambridge gave out cuddles to schoolgirls excited to meet the royal at Windsor Park, in Belfast
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge both spent time speaking to the youngsters at the kickabout on Wednesday
Out on the Windsor Park turf, the royals joined in some training exercises with local schoolchildren
Kate donned a £159 Barbour jacket and £80 Sweaty Betty X New Balance trainers for the training session with kids
The Duchess of Cambridge knelt down to speak to the schoolgirls about their football training in Belfast
They met people involved in an initiative aimed at encouraging more women into key decision making roles within the game and also met young people involved in the Goal programme - a project designed for those not in employment, education or training.
William and Kate also heard about IFA workshops and education courses that help students develop life skills.
They learned about the Stay Onside initiative, which works with criminal justice agencies in a bid to reduce offending rates.
The Cambridges also heard more about the game of Powerchair, an adapted version of football for wheelchair users.
As they left the stadium at the end of the visit, three schoolchildren presented the couple with three green Northern Ireland home shirts, with the names George, Charlotte and Louis on the backs.
They then made their way to a youth facility in Co Fermanagh where were greeted by a crowd of cheering children
William and Kate were met by Roland Eadie, the Deputy Lieutenant of County Fermanagh and his wife, Mary Kathleen Doherty; Fermanagh and Omagh Council's chairman Howard Thornton, and chief executive Brendan Hegarty; Derek McCabe, the chairman of Extern Group and its chief executive Charlie Mack, as well as Mark Rodgers from Roscor Youth Village.
Groups of children watched on as the couple were welcomed to the youth village, on the shores of Lough Erne.
It is the second stop for the royal couple as part of their trip to Northern Ireland.
The royal mother-of-three appeared taken by the little boy - while he was more interested in playing with her bouquet
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge were animated as they arrived at Windsor Park for the first stop on their two-day tour
Father-of-three William bent down to speak to some of the children waiting outside Windsor Park for the couple, pictured
Football fan Prince William looked delighted as he was given a tour inside Windsor Park, home of the Irish Football Association
On arrival at the National Stadium at Windsor Park, the couple were greeted by scores of cheering schoolchildren.
William and Kate stopped to chat with the crowds, with the Duchess being presented with a number of bunches of flowers.
International boss Michael O'Neill was among senior Irish Football Association staff who welcomed them at the entrance to the recently redeveloped venue.
O'Neill, who himself won 31 caps playing for Northern Ireland, has been credited with bringing the glory days back to the team during his tenure as manager.
The smartly-dressed boy grabbed the Duchess' attention as he waited with his mother outside Windsor Park stadium
The playful youngster was full of beans and raised a smile from the Duchess of Cambridge at the football stadium
Radiant Kate beamed as she was handed several bouquets of spring blooms by well-wishers in the crowd outside the stadium
The Duchess of Cambridge needed two hands to carry the beautiful tulips she was handed by well-wishers at the engagement
Kate wore delicate Kiki McDonough ‘Lauren’ leaf earrings for the outing to Windsor Park in Belfast today
The Duchess of Cambridge looked very relaxed as she chatted to well-wishers who had waited to see the royal couple
A group of young schoolgirls looked in awe of the Duchess of Cambridge, 37, as she leaned down to speak to them
He led the side to its first major tournament in 30 years at the 2016 European Championships in France.
During their tour of the venue, the couple also met Northern Ireland footballing legend Pat Jennings.
Former Spurs and Arsenal goalkeeper Jennings is Northern Ireland's record caps holder, with 119 appearances during a career that took in the 1982 and 1986 World Cup Finals.
William and Kate were shown a bronze cast print of the stopper's celebrated 'safe hands' as they walked through the stadium's heritage centre.
The couple will then travel to the Roscor Youth Village charity in Co Fermanagh, which is a residential activity centre for children referred by social workers.
It is the third time the couple have visited the region together.
The Duchess of Cambridge donned a £1,200 Carolina Herrera coat and LK Bennett boots for the occasion
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge speak to members of the military outside Windsor Park in Belfast on Wednesday
The Duchess of Cambridge elegantly swept her hair behind her shoulder as she made her way into the stadium in Belfast
On arrival at the National Stadium at Windsor Park, the couple were greeted by scores of cheering schoolchildren
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have arrived for a two-day tour and started the visit at Windsor Park, pictured
Their final visit of the day will be to Belfast Empire Hall to celebrate 'inspirational young people who are making a real difference in Northern Ireland'.
On previous visits, the couple attended a garden party at the royal residence at Hillsborough Castle, Co Down, in June 2016, when they mingled with many of the 2,500 invited guests.
Five years earlier, they visited Northern Ireland just weeks before their wedding.
On that occasion, Kate tossed pancakes at Belfast City Hall and hammered in fence posts at Greenmount Agriculture College in Co Antrim.
Finally, a couple that DOES NOT embarrass the Hous...
by Quinn. 1840