Duke of Cambridge talks bikes with barrister at Middle Temple

THE Duke and Duchess of Cambridge shared a joke yesterday as they signed the visitors book at Middle Temple, the barristers’ institution in London.

As master of the bench, the duke was accompanied by his wife, Catherine, as they met recipients of the Queen Mother scholarship, the Diana, Princess of Wales scholarship and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge scholarships.

The royal couple took in their first public engagement since the end of their tour last month and the publication of controversial pictures of the topless duchess in European newspapers and magazines.

Kicking off a week of engagements yesterday, the duchess will have to “go it alone” for one day, after the palace announced that the duke will be attending the funeral of his former nanny tomorrow.

The duke met a trainee lawyer and awarded a scholarship established in honour of the royal and found himself discussing superbikes. He swapped stories about the powerful road machines with fellow enthusiast Steven Kennedy, who hopes to become a barrister thanks to the £25,000 award.

Mr Kennedy, 40, is fulfilling a dream to become a barrister and earlier this year received one of two Duke and Duchess of Cambridge scholarships, established by Middle Temple to mark the royal couple’s wedding last year.

He said: “They were a very nice couple and I ended up talking with the duke about our love of motorcycles.”

Mr Kennedy said he met his girlfriend, also a bike enthusiast, at Middle Temple.