Royal news arrived late last night when Kensington Palace said Prince William and Kate Middleton will attend the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow on August 1. Their visit falls on the second-to-last day of competition and will include meetings with Team Wales competitors, relatives and people backed by SportsAid.
The Princess has served as Patron of SportsAid since 2013, and has met young sportspeople at training sessions, performance seminars and fundraising occasions. The couple are also due to meet the emerging generation of national contenders being nurtured through the Team England Futures initiative, which gives promising young competitors and support personnel a chance to experience the Games from inside the event.
Kensington Palace and Glasgow
The announcement comes after strong royal attendance throughout the Games. The King and Queen were present at the Opening Ceremony, arriving in Doctor Who's Tardis, while the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh and the Princess Royal have been spotted at numerous sporting contests.
Edward made his second visit to the Bowls and Para Bowls yesterday and was accompanied by his wife. They sat in the front row of one of the stands and chatted with volunteers at the Games.
SportsAid and Team Wales
The Commonwealth Games in Glasgow appearance gives the couple a set programme rather than a general walkabout. They are expected to move between sporting events, meet Team Wales competitors and relatives, and spend time with young people linked to SportsAid and Team England Futures.
The question left open is whether Prince George or the couple's other two children will accompany them. Kensington Palace has not released any information on that point, so the public picture is the visit itself: August 1, Glasgow, and the Games' second-to-last day.
