All's fair in love and dragon-boat racing as duke defeats the duchess

THE Duke of Cambridge won bragging rights over his wife yesterday when his team of dragon-boat racers beat the duchess's team.

William and Kate went head tohead on the water as they completed one of the more entertaining engagements of their tour of Canada.

The royal couple were supposed to be steering for their teams of 20 rowers but ended up paddling.

When the race started on Dalvay Lake, Prince Edward Island, the duke and duchess began rowing furiously with their team-mates and both dragon boats powered along the 200ft course. William's team had the edge and crossed the line a third of a length ahead.

The duke was all smiles as he stepped on to the shore and his check shirt and grey trousers were splashed with water from his effort, while the duchess, dressed in black leggings and a light windcheater, looked a little subdued.

As William was handed a small bottle of champagne as his prize, he said: "There's no chivalry in sport."

The duke also took part in a dramatic helicopter landing on water. William took the controls of the Canadian Forces Sea King helicopter and brought it down safely on to a lake in front of dozens of spectators in a daring manoeuvre known as "waterbirding".

Earlier, thousands lined the streets as the royal couple were driven in a horse-drawn carriage through the province's normally quiet and reserved community of Charlottetown.