Source :- PERTH NOW NEWS
Australia’s chef de mission has engaged in pin diplomacy with William and Kate as the Prince and Princess of Wales watched a 23-year-old West Australian judoka grapple for gold.
William and Kate, with their three children in tow, had plenty of sports fans rubbernecking in Glasgow as they took in some netball, cycling and judo events.
The Duke and Duchess of Rothesay, as the royal couple are known as when in Scotland, sat with Princess Charlotte, Prince Louis and Prince George in the crowd for Australia’s dramatic netball semi-final loss to Jamaica.
The Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome was the next stop on their whistle-stop tour of the Games before the family shifted to the Scottish Event Campus (SEC) for judo finals.
Petria Thomas, chef de mission of Australia’s all-conquering team set to crash through the 150-medal barrier, was seated in front of William and Kate during the judo session.
“I presented Princess Charlotte with a pin that featured Borobi, our team mascot,” Thomas said.
“They all indicated they were enjoying their day at the Games, which was great to hear.”
The royals were in the stands as Australian judoka Saya Middleton, on Games debut, lost her tense -63kg final against Canadian Laurence Biron.
“I didn’t know till afterwards,” Middleton said, when asked about William and Kate forming part of a heaving crowd at the venue.
“And I was like, ‘oh, that’s crazy’.
“Hopefully, they’re still hanging around and I’ll be able to see them. But yeah, that was really cool to know that they were in the crowd.”
There was no such luck for Middleton.
Australian cyclist Leigh Hoffman, who has won multiple medals in Glasgow, gave an honest reply of “not really” when asked if riding in front of royals carried any extra meaning.
“My girlfriend and her family, her mum is from Liverpool and loves her royal family a bit. It might mean something to her,” Hoffman said.
“But we’re a family of steelworkers, so not really.”
Earlier on the penultimate day of the Games, it was a strange scene at the Hydro as the Diamonds’ semi started.
As word spread of the royals’ visit, a throng of photographers assembled with lenses trained on the stands rather than the on-court action.
“It’s pretty special to have them in the crowd,” Diamonds star Kate Moloney said after the Diamonds’ loss.
Scotland’s netball team grabbed a photo with the royals before they left the Hydro then walked outside to meet Games volunteers and mascot Finnie plus gold medallists Mark Swan and Reuben Ward.
“Being in a position where I’m being chosen to meet the Prince of Wales, it’s just a strange but incredible experience,” Scottish gymnast Ward said.
Prince William’s chief passion is soccer and Birmingham-based club Aston Villa, while he and son George have previously made headlines while attending a Lord’s Ashes Test and various England soccer games.
with PA
