Will, Kate and Harry burst out of Olympic starting blocks
Prince Harry, Prince William and Kate, Duchess of Cambridge, talk to children on Thursday during their visit to Bacon's College in London to launch the Coach Core program, a partnership between the Foundation of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry, and Greenhouse charity. (AP Photo)
The Royal Family knows how to mix business with, well, more business.
With the Olympics on its doorstep, young royals William, Kate and Harry are making sure they take advantage of the spotlight to showcase some of their favourite charity causes as well. And why not?
First up for the W-K-H Olympic show on Thursday was the launching of Coach Core, a sports project supported by the trio's charitable foundation to help develop coaches. Then, fulfilling their role as Olympic ambassadors, they greeted the Olympic flame as it made its final journey through the streets of London en route to Olympic Park (right).
At Bacon's College in southeast London, the royals met with about 100 kids who demonstrated judo, basketball, soccer and table tennis for their casually dressed guests. Harry and William were twinning in white shirts and matching belts, while Kate was at her summer discount best for choice of wardrobe ... a $55 grey and white checked 'Wessex' dress from Hobbs department store (as usual, sold out), teamed $120 footwear (Pied a Terre Imperia wedges). She later changed into some skinny jeans to greet the torch.
AT Beacon's, the trio took turns at various sports. The Daily Mail reports that William, on the football pitch, "sweated in the heat as he kicked a ball, dribbled it through some cones and then wildly mis-timed a shot at goal."
In his speech, William poked fun at himself -- "Watching me on the football field is never a pretty sight. The expression 'giraffe on ice' comes to mind"-- then took a stab at Harry, referring to Harry's mock race with Usain Bolt in Jamaica -- "It's marginally better than to see by brother cheat his way to become the fastest man on the planet."
Kate got off more lightly: "Catherine with a hockey stick is something to behold — and be aware of."
Together, the royal threesome will be attending about 30 Olympic events over the next several weeks.
The Duchess of Cambridge tries her hand at a few of the sports on display at Bacon's College on Thursday. Above, she masters her table tennis stroke, while, left, she overcomes the handicap of wearing the wrong shoes to kick a soccer ball. (Getty Images)
Kate offers a little encouragement to William as they walk on the football pitch toward a small demonstration of the Prince's ball handling skills. (Getty Images)
The Duchess of Cambridge joins the bare-footed crowd on the mat as she starts a judo match at Bacon's College on Thursday. (Getty Images)
Prince William shows off some of his football skills, elegant and otherwise, at Bacon's College on Thursday. (Getty Images)
Prince Harry shows that basketball isn't his game. Four shots and four misses. (Getty Images)
Prince William, Kate and Harry head back into the Palace leave after watching Olympic torch bearer Wai-Ming Lee hand over the flame to John Hulse. (Reuters)
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