As they enjoyed a full day of Commonwealth Games sport, the Duke and Duchess sat beside a smiling Princess Charlotte.
William and Kate arrived at the Sandwell aquatics center in Sandwell, West Midlands on Tuesday, just after the Earl of Wessex, Countess and their children, Lady Louise, and James.
Before the duke and duchess’s arrival, Edward, who is vice patron of the Commonwealth Games, shared a joke with former prime minister Theresa May as he entered Sandwell Aquatics Centre during the men’s 1,500m freestyle heats.
The Sandwell Aquatics Centre’s royal guests (Jacob King/PA).PA Wire/PA Pictures – Jacob King
The duke of Edinburgh and duchess of Cambridge arrived soon after and were seated in front the Wessex family.
Kate, wearing a white blazer with trousers, hugged Edward, Sophie, and their children, before she took Charlotte’s seat.
The duchess was showing her daughter things and explaining them to William, who was holding one of the official programmes.
Princess Charlotte enjoys the atmosphere at the swimming pool (Jacob Kings/PA).PA Wire/PA Pictures – Jacob King
The crowd cheered and applauded alongside Luke Turley, England’s 1,500m freestyle hopeful.
After rolling her eyes following a comment from her father, Charlotte then cracked a smile as Turley’s heat came to a close.
In the afternoon, the duke and duchess watched the hockey as England’s women took on India at the University of Birmingham’s Selly Oak city campus.
Kate and William arrived 11 minutes after the event began. They sat behind Edward, Sophie, and their children.
The Duke and Duchess, of Cambridge, with Princess Charlotte (Joe Giddens/PA).PA Wire/PA Photos – Joe Giddens
England was flying high, scoring a goal in the first quarter before the Cambridges took their seats.
Kate, in the same white blazer, matching blouse and trousers as William, warmly welcomed the Wessexes. William was wearing a formal shirt and blue blazer with pale trousers.
While Sophie sat down to talk with Kate, Charlotte, in a black-and-white striped summer dress, was seated in front.
The opener was missed by the royals, but the royals didn’t have to wait too long for more drama on the field.
The duchess and Princess Charlotte playing hockey (Jacob-King/PA)PA Wire/PA Pictures – Jacob King
India seemed to have equalised and Edward clutched his head with both hands.
It was a nervous wait while a video referral was run in order to confirm that the ball hadn’t crossed the line at 15 minutes into the first quarter.
The royals and the spectators were relieved to hear that the replay had shown a narrow win for the home team.
Later, Kate leaned in close with Charlotte to explain a detail to her daughter while she was playing.
The Cambridges during day five of 2022 Commonwealth Games (Jacob King/PA).PA Wire/PA Photos – Joe Giddens
The princess appeared to be keen to take in the whole thing, raising her arms to her head on several occasions and letting her cheeks show at another.
At half-time, the Cambridges headed off to another Games engagement – with the sure-footed Charlotte leading down the steps of the stand, with her mother and father close behind.
Well into the third quarter, the Wessexes were able to cheer and applaud as England’s Tess Howard then scored the team’s second goal with a low, sweeping drive into the corner of the net.