A recent video has captured a tender moment where the Prince of Wales offered subtle reassurance to his wife during their latest visit to Northern Ireland.
Prince William and Kate, both aged 43, embarked on a series of three engagements during their day-long tour, including a stop at Long Meadow Cider. This family-operated, award-winning farm is nestled in County Armagh, known as Northern Ireland’s Orchard County, and was one of their key visits on Tuesday.
The farm is renowned for its diverse array of products, featuring craft ciders such as medium, oak-aged, and unique flavors like rhubarb and honey. They also offer an alcohol-free cider, along with both still and sparkling apple juices, spiced apple juice, and apple cider vinegar.
Upon their arrival at the facility, the royal couple—parents to Prince George, 12, Princess Charlotte, 10, and Prince Louis, seven—appeared to experience a brief moment of uncertainty about where the Princess should stand.
As Kate walked slightly behind William, he subtly gestured to his right, inviting her to join him on that side. This allowed her to greet the farm’s staff after he did.
In the footage, when Prince William met the workers at Long Meadow Cider, he can be seen referring to them as ‘geniuses,’ likely in admiration of their expertly crafted beverages.
They were heard laughing at his joke, before he asked how everyone was, and added: ‘It’s very nice to see you.’
It was then that Kate was seen tugging at her husband’s elbow, in what appeared to be confusion as to where she should stand, prompting the heir to gently gesture to his right, where she then stepped to.
The Princess of Wales appeared slightly anxious as she pulled at her husband’s elbow, but in a sweet, surreptitious move, William gestured for her to move to the right (the Wales are seen while visiting Long Meadow Cider in County Armagh on Tuesday)
As William thanked staff for having them at the venue, he was told that he was welcome, and it was ‘lovely’ to have them there.
During the visit, the royal couple were given the opportunity to show off their baking skills as they attempted to make potato apple bread.
They quickly got stuck in, donning aprons to roll out the flour and potato.
It was not long before the Prince of Wales soon sent orchard owners into hysterics with his cheeky commentary.
They began peeling their baskets of apples, and halfway through his first effort, Wills looked at his fruit, and then turned to the McKeever family.
He joked: ‘If we are peeling every apple, you are going to have to start helping. We’ll be here a while.’
Slicing apple to put inside the bread, Pat McKeever called out: ‘I like mine thick.’
Prince William couldn’t resist making a mischievous remark in return.
He quipped ‘you’ll get what you’re given’, prompting laughter from others.
Continuing his comedic routine, he then turned to Kate – who appeared to be lagging behind – and teased her: ‘Do keep up.’
However, he also showed he was able to laugh at himself.
The couple had been given instructions to roll their dough into circles – something William admitted struggling with.
Looking at his misshapen dough, he prompted laughter, saying: ‘A circle? Now you tell me! If you look this way it looks like a circle. This is a new variety!’
Long Meadow Farm has been owned by the McKeever family for three generations making cider, apple juice, and apple cider vinegar since 1968.
Kate and William observed the apple cider vinegar production process, before watching how the apples are pressed and bottled on site into their award-winning cider.
During their day in Northern Ireland, William and Kate also visited the Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service’s new Learning and Development College
The Prince and Princess also had an engagement visit to Mallon Farm, a flax farm in County Tyrone
Kate said: ‘We tried this at home with a hand press. It was quite good fun with the children. It was very messy.’
Kate and William also visited Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service’s new Learning and Development College, near Cookstown and County Tyrone, and Mallon Farm, a flax farm in County Tyrone.
In a tender scene during the day, Kate was photographed affectionately placing her hand on Prince William’s back before the royal couple rode in a fire truck and watched trainee firefighters take part in drills.
The pair, who looked perfectly in step in coordinated brown suede shoes, had visited Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service’s new Learning and Development College on their first stop of the day.
William and Kate, dressed in the bespoke Alexander McQueen forest green coat she first debuted in 2020 in Bradford, appeared delighted to be on their day-long trip, putting on a loved-up display.
For their second outing, the Prince and Princess visited, Mallon Farm, a flax farm in County Tyrone, where Kate gamely tried her hand at an ancient linen-making technique.
Changing out of her designer midi coat, the royal nailed country chic in a brown skirt and grey jumper, teamed with a stylish green Barbour jacket and a pair of shamrock earrings, for her second engagement of the action-packed day.
It was after their first two engagements they made their way to Long Meadow Cider, where they enjoyed a range of apple-based activities.
