The Earl and Countess of Strathearn raced each other in land yachts when they returned to St Andrews 20 years after meeting in the university town.
William and Kate raced each other in land yachts on West Sands beach.
In crash helmets and casual clothes, they joined six teenage carers trying out the sport on a day course organised as respite from their normal duties looking after family members.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge racing on the sand (Andrew Mulligan/PA)
The session, arranged by Fife Young Carers, was hosted by a local company, Blown Away.
The charity, which has operated since 1995, supports 597 young people, with the figure rising monthly.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge (centre) with a group of young carers who were taken land yachting on West Sands beach (Andrew Mulligan/PA)
The Duke told twins Jamie and Guy McKenzie, who run the land yachting business. “I want to go faster. I need to make sure I’ve got the right angle."
At one point the couple appeared to be heading for a head-on collision but William steered away at the last minute.
The royal couple had spent a night in St Andrews, where they met as first-year students, ahead of today’s engagements. But they appeared to have forgotten how brisk the late spring nights can be on the east coast of Scotland.
“I opened the window last night and it was so cold,” Kate told the carers as they chatted on the sands before trying out the land yachting.
She and William talked to the six teenagers, aged between 13 and 18, about their lives looking after sick parents or siblings and how they balance their responsibilities with school work and trying to do ordinary things that teenagers do.
Kate, who was wearing a jumper by Highlands firm Campbell’s of Beauly, asked if their friends at school realised the challenges they face.
“Is it hard for them to relate to what you are doing?” she asked, “Do you think people in general are understanding?”
As they talked about their lives, she asked: “Do you find it hard to find time for yourselves and do things?”
One of the boys told her he had been on a yacht last year and had taken it in turns with others to cook for the crew. Kate, who worked on yachts when she was a student, asked: “Did you get seasick?
“I did but your body gets used to it,” he replied.
The Duchess of Cambridge is shown how to sail the land yacht (Andrew Milligan/PA)
William praised them for the care they gave their loved ones. “You guys do really well,” he told them, “You should be very proud of yourselves, guys.”
Kirstie Howell, service manager for Fife Young Carers, said it was important the young people the organisation helps got the chance to get away from their responsibilities and enjoy normal pleasures.
“It’s a chance for these young people to get away from their care roles and just allowing them to be young people again,” she said.
The royal couple raced each other across the sands (Phil Noble/PA)
The duke and duchess spent the morning with young carers (Phil Noble/PA)
Kate was shown how far a buggy could tip (Phil Noble/PA)
The couple came close to colliding (Andrew Milligan/PA)
They have a history of sporting competitiveness on previous engagements (Andrew Milligan/PA)
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