Royal couple rubs shoulders with Jay Z and Beyonce

Will and Kate arriving at their New York hotel. Picture: Getty

William and Kate chatted to the rap mogul and his wife during a break in the game between local team the Brooklyn Nets, supported by the celebrity couple, and the Cleveland Cavaliers.

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Despite the poor performance of Jay Z’s team who eventually lost 110-88 the two couples were all smiles during a break before the final quarter of the contest.

The rapper used to be a co-owner of the Nets until he sold his share to focus on his sports agency company and is a regular face at the Barclays Centre in the fashionable neighbourhood of Brooklyn.

During the match there was a noisy but peaceful demonstration by a group campaigning for justice for the family of Eric Garner, who died in July after a New York Police Department officer placed him in a chokehold during an arrest.

The protest was one of a number held in recent days and the activists staged a “die in” lying on the pavement outside the basketball arena while being watched by a large police presence.

Inside the Barclays Centre arena, Cleveland’s star player Lebron James came out in sympathy with the protesters during the warm-up, wearing the T-shirt bearing the slogan “I can’t breathe” said to be the last words of Mr Garner.

Kate dressed casually for the night at the basketball match and looked chic in a grey coat by US designer Tory Burch, skinny jeans and heels, while Beyonce wore a polka dot top and figure-hugging skirt.

William is known to be a fan of R&B, dance and rap music and must have relished meeting rapper Jay Z.

The two couples sat opposite each other in courtside seats that cost thousands of dollars but usually cannot be bought as they are prestige places given to celebrity supporters.

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