Kate Middleton Watches Prince William Try His Hand at Hockey

William takes a few swings with the local youth during the couple's visit with aboriginal tribes in Canada's Northwest Territories

By Natalie Finn Jul 05, 2011 9:40 PMTags
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When in Canada, right?

With his immaculately dressed wife looking on, Prince William took a couple of practice shots with local youth hockey players during the couple's stop at the Somba K'e Civic Plaza in Yellowknife, capital of the Northwest Territories, where they met with members of the region's aboriginal tribes.

And while Kate Middleton played field hockey at school, her husband proved today that polo really is his game.

Though he didn't have to balance on ice skates at the same time like a real Canadian, none of his three penalty shots hit the sweet spot, with William at one point telling goalkeeper Calvin Lomen, "You realize you've got to let one in!" according to London's Daily Mail.

"He looked like he knew what he was doing and he seems like a natural talent if he practices more," Lomen said cordially afterward.

"I would have taken a shot if I wasn't in heels," Kate reportedly told one of the teens standing with her as they watched Wills either shoot wide or right into the goalie's imposing frame.

As parting gifts, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge were presented with Team Canada Olympic sweaters and red hockey jerseys emblazoned with "Cambridge," with the No. 1 jersey of course going to the missus and No. 2 to her hubby.

Government officials also presented Kate with a platinum-and-diamond pavé-set brooch in the shape of the Northwest Territories' polar bear logo, and gave Wills a pair of polar bear cuff links.

Tomorrow, William and Kate are scheduled to fly to Slave Lake, Alberta, to meet rescue workers who helped out when wildfires displaced the town's 7,000 residents last month.

The royals are due in Calgary on Thursday for a White Hat Ceremony, a tour of the University of Calgary's Ward of the 21st Century Research and Innovation Centre, and a government reception.

Before jetting off to Los Angeles on Friday, they'll help kick off the Calgary Stampede Parade and attend an official departure ceremony at the Calgary Zoo's ENMAX Conservatory.

A polo match and benefit dinner in Santa Barbara and BAFTA's inaugural Brits to Watch gala are on the SoCal agenda, along with a recently announced stop at Inner-City Arts, a nonprofit academy in downtown L.A.'s Skid Row neighborhood that provides free visual- and performing-arts classes for kids from poverty-stricken homes.