HRH Duchess Kate Goes on Maternity Leave as She Performs Last Official Royal Engagement Before Royal Baby 3 Arrives

 

Caption: The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, who are soon to be parents for the third time, looked in great spirits as they arrived for their last joint engagement before Kate gives birth

The Duke and Duchess both donned aprons and got stuck into preparations for the Commonwealth Big Lunch, which encourages people to get together for food with members of their local community

First stop was the Olympic Park's Copper Box arena for a SportsAid event

William and his wife began their day at the Olympic Park's Copper Box arena in Stratford, East London for an event staged by SportsAid, a national charity helping the next generation of Olympic, Paralympic and Commonwealth champions.

Inside the 7,000-seat arena, which hosted handball and modern pentathlon fencing during the London 2012 Olympics, the royal couple met wheelchair basketball players led by television presenter Ade Adepitan, who won bronze at the 2004 Paralympics in Athens.

He encouraged William to have a go and helped advise him on how to get the best performance out of the wheelchair, while SportsAid's chief executive Tim Lawler told the Prince how difficult he had found the sport playing in a charity tournament for the past three years. Read More From The Daily Mail.

Next Stop was St. Luke's and the Big Lunch

St Luke’s hosts a 'Big Lunch' every year as part of the Eden Project's Big Lunch initiative.

The Big Lunch aims to encourage as many people as possible to have lunch with members of their community once a year to share food and encourage friendship.

Commonwealth Big Lunches are part of the official celebrations leading up to the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) and are taking place from Commonwealth Day on 12th March until 22nd April.

Michael Ryan, St Luke’s Chief Executive Officer said: ‘We’re thrilled that Their Royal Highnesses are helping St Luke’s with our Commonwealth Big Lunch.

St Luke’s provides services and activities for locals at the heart of its community and has a fully-equipped Cookery School, which runs community classes on healthy, home cooking and avoiding food waste.

As they arrived Kate was presented with a pretty spring bouquet by Rhea Richards, four, from the St Luke’s Nursery. ‘How old are you?’ she asked. ‘Four? Wow. George is four. Well thank you very much, this is lovely.’ They then went in for a cup of tea in the centre cafe for a briefing about its work, but managed to resist the plates of cupcakes, almond bakewells and brownies on offer.  Read About Their Full Day from The Daily Mail.