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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Russell Myers

Prince William admits he's had 'non-stop grief' from Kate Middleton after tense outing

Prince William admitted getting "non-stop grief" from his wife today over England beating Wales at rugby.

He confessed Kate had been giving him stick all weekend after Wales’s 10-20 defeat to England in the Six Nations rugby union championship on Saturday.

The heir to the throne and his wife, who were both at the game in Cardiff last weekend supporting the rival teams, returned to South Wales today for a series of official engagements ahead of St David’s Day tomorrow.

William, 40, is patron of the Welsh Rugby Union and Kate, 41, holds the same position for England’s Rugby Football Union.

William and Kate visited South Wales today (Ian Vogler / Daily Mirror)

Asked if he had enjoyed the game when the couple arrived at Brynawel Rehabilitation Centre for people with drink and drug addiction near the town of Pontyclun, the Prince said: "Not a lot. We’ve been talking about it all weekend."

Later he went further, telling one of his hosts: "I’ve been getting non-stop grief all weekend about that."

He and Kate went to the rehabilitation centre to see the work it has been doing for 40 years with those suffering from addiction, including a programme for people with Alcohol Related Brain Damage and specialist therapy courses to help clients improve their mental health.

They also went to view the first of six £20,000 therapy gardens and allotments that their Royal Foundation is match-funding along with British Airways in a collaboration with the social enterprise Life at No 27.

The project at Brynawel will be the second in a series of "community impact" pilot projects designed to leave a lasting legacy of their royal visits to some places. It follows a substantial donation they made to a youth project after a visit to Scarborough last November.

William chats to those at the Brynawel Rehabilitation Centre (Ian Vogler / Daily Mirror)
Kate is given flowers during a visit to Wales (Ian Vogler / Daily Mirror)

William and Kate viewed the planned site for the therapy garden, an 80 metres by 50 metres field at the back of the centre, where the Princess enthused about the benefits that gardening and spending recreation time outside can bring.

She recalled her visit to a forest school in Denmark in February last year and how the children enjoyed campfire songs.

Kate, who is an ardent campaigner for the benefits of the great outdoors, described how her children, especially her youngest child, Prince Louis, four, enjoy time in the garden at school and at home.

Kate laughs as she plants some Sweet William seeds (Ian Vogler / Daily Mirror)

"Louis comes home and says: ‘I need to get my energy out," she said.

The new garden at the Brynawel Rehabilitation Centre will include a collection of allotments where individuals can have their own space to learn and grow their own produce. This will sit alongside a communal sensory and herbal garden, a mud kitchen and an interactive learning space.

The Royal Foundation has brought together national and local organisations to support the design and build, as well as provide funding, tools, plants, seeds and materials for landscaping.

Kate, who like William was wearing a daffodil for St David’s Day, said: "It’s really good to see the pre-site."

The couple's trip to Wales is ahead of St David's Day (Ian Vogler / Daily Mirror)

She told her hosts: "Next time we are going to come back with our wellies and give you all a hand."

She got them started by sowing some seeds for some ornamental flowers - Sweet William, much to her husband’s amusement. William laughed and turned his back before suggesting it was a long time since he had been called that.

"Not since my youth," he smiled.

Kate was given flowers of her own by a number of well-wishers, including two-year-old Cora Phillips and her mum, Michelle from nearby Llanharan. "Thank you so much," the Princess said. "I spotted you when we arrived."

Earlier, the royal couple met residents who have spent time at the centre and talked to them about their addiction problems.

William spoke to Ryan Walters, who is just about to complete six months living at the centre. "I was a functioning alcoholic, an electrician. I lost my job at Hinkley Point due to drinking," he said.

"I didn’t know how to get out of it. My partner left me. I wasn’t sure who I was any more."

He told the Prince that the rehab centre had changed his life. "I wake up with a smile on my face, I go to bed with a smile on my face," he said.

William told him: "Well done you. You’ve got your confidence back."

"A bit too much maybe," Ryan said to laughter. Before they left the couple unveiled a plaque to mark their visit.

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