The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge joined Norwegian children in a winter wonderland as their Scandinavian tour came to an end.
William and Kate, dressed for the freezing conditions in bobble hats and padded coats, watched as tiny school children showed off their skiing skills at Holmenkollen, the snowy hills over looking Oslo.
The four to six-year-olds displayed their skiing abilities, sliding through hoops, down slopes and making sharp turns in the snow as their teachers put them through their paces.
Earlier at the nearby Holmenkollen ski jump William and Kate met well-wishers as they walked into the museum of the famous sporting venue where brave jumpers hurtle down the slope.
One visitor asked the duke if he was going to have a go at the event and he laughed as he replied: “No, no, leave it to the professionals.”
After the British and Norwegian royal couples laughed, Crown Princess Mette-Marit, who was with Crown Prince Haakon, told the Duke “I’m sorry,” and he replied “No no, quite right.”
The small attraction is built into the hill, underneath the ski jump itself and opened in 1923.
It is thought to be the world’s oldest museum devoted to skiing and attempts to tell 4,000 years of “exciting ski history” through exhibitions.
Among the items on show were fur-lined gloves and shoes, cooking pots, tin cans, cutlery, and a camera, as well as skis, poles, a sled, and a stuffed dog.
At the top of the ski jump William and Kate took in breathtaking views and watched sportsmen take on the challenge.
“Good luck. You’ve got this,” Prince William told her as she set off. As she disappeared into the distance in mid-air, Kate clapped with delight and the Duke said: “Wow. That was amazing.”
Kate, meanwhile, was in a playful mood and made a snowball and then threw it at William. “It’s too cold for snowballs,” he said, smiling as the Norwegian royals stood with them.
When they joined the skiing youngsters William and Kate sat around a campfire toasting sausages and bread on a stick.
“She said their children would love to be here and that it is a nice place,” said Line Hansen, manager of the kindergarten at Ovresetertjern, near Oslo.
“She said that George tried skiing last year but he was young so was just starting.”
The royals then sat down to talk with the children about the ski school and join in the cooking. They baked a simple bread mixture – called pinnebrod – wrapped around a stick and sausages.
“They were asking the children their names and what they like about kindergarten and about what we were cooking,” Line Hansen said.
An incredible end to #RoyalVisitNorway! Thank you to everyone who made The Duke and Duchess feel so welcome ?? pic.twitter.com/0Yv2cWpI1V
— Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) February 2, 2018
“They liked the environment and the setting. The children told them about their lessons and how they like to be by the bonfire.”
As the late afternoon sun glistened on the snow, the couple were told that the 66 children are taught in three cabins and spend a lot of time outside — often on skis — and that there are no fences around the school.
“They were very beautiful and down to earth and very interested,” the manager added.
