Royal Soccer Practice! Kate Middleton Switches Into Sneakers to Hit the Field in Northern Ireland
Kate Middleton brought her sporty style to Northern Ireland!
After arriving to Windsor Park Stadium in Belfast on Wednesday in a bright red coat dress by Carolina Herrera – a recycled piece that she previously wore on her 2016 tour of Canada! – along with black tights and lace-up booties, the royal mom made a quick outfit change before heading out onto the field with young athletes.
Kate wore athletic pants, a blue lightweight jacket over a white sweater with blue and red stripes and New Balance sneakers – and tied her hair back into a ponytail – to take part in a soccer practice with young girls.
The Irish Football Association’s “Shooting Stars” program encourages girls to play soccer, while “Ahead of the Game” works to support clubs and volunteers when dealing with mental health issues, a cause close to Kate and Prince William‘s hearts.
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Kate Middleton. JEFF J MITCHELL/GETTY:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(999x0:1001x2):format(webp)/kate-1-3-1-19de13cb124c442cb58bf1b9c63cf89b.jpg)
Kate Middleton. PAUL ELLIS/AFP/GETTY Kate Middleton and Prince William Kick Off Tour of Northern Ireland After Time Off with Kids
William also got in on the action, participating in drills wearing blue and orange sneakers.
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Prince William and Kate Middleton. KELVIN BOYES – POOL/GETTY:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(686x0:688x2):format(webp)/kate-2-3-1-35db972ba8f2401489d5203754ab79cf.jpg)
Prince William and Kate Middleton. KELVIN BOYES – POOL/GETTY
The couple also received gifts for their three children – Prince George, 5, Princess Charlotte, 3, and Prince Louis, 10 months: green soccer jerseys personalized with each of their names!
Before getting on the field, the couple were shown around by Northern Ireland’s legendary goalie Pat Jennings. William even got a chance to put his hands in the soccer star’s imprints!
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Prince William, Kate Middleton and Pat Jennings. KELVIN BOYES – POOL/GETTY:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(999x0:1001x2):format(webp)/kate-3-2-1b8d4e4b28494d55ad2a9e7fed10566d.jpg)
Kate Middleton, Pat Jennings and Prince William. KELVIN BOYES – POOL/GETTY:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(999x0:1001x2):format(webp)/kate-4-1-227379e4d68e4646bbe03c38d3d442dc.jpg)
Prince William and Kate Middleton. KELVIN BOYES – POOL/GETTY
Kate, 37, and William, 34, are in Northern Ireland for a two-day tour. Wednesday’s engagements will also include a visit to the Roscor Youth Village in Fermanagh to see the work of the Extern charity to provide children with a space to develop their independent living s𝓀𝒾𝓁𝓁s and enjoy outdoor activities. They’ll finish the day back in Belfast at the Empire Music Hall, where they’ll attend a party celebrating young adults making a difference in Northern Ireland, complete with a performance by the band LARKS.
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Prince William and Kate Middleton. AARON CHOWN/PA IMAGES VIA GETTY IMAGES:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(561x0:563x2):format(webp)/kate-2-4-4a2fe19bc5ab44eaa219af319d31862d.jpg)
Kate Middleton. SAMIR HUSSEIN/WIREIMAGE
Prince William and Kate previously visited Northern Ireland together for a one-day engagement ahead of their April 2011 wedding. There, they met members of the public and tossed pancakes in the center of Belfast as part of their Shrove Tuesday tour of the city.
The couple returned for a joint visit in June 2016, when they attended the Secretary of State’s annual Garden party at Hillsborough Castle in Belfast.
Prince William also made a solo trip in Oct. 2017 to see the work of Inspire, a charity that reaches 1,500 people through their mental support services.
Kate and William’s visit comes after a week off of royal duty to spend time with their three children. The schools of both Prince George, 5, and Princess Charlotte, 3, were closed for half-term break. And of course, 10-month-old Prince Louis got to spend some more time with his older siblings!