The Duke of Cambridge seemed to let it slip that his wife may be pregnant again.
In an unguarded comment on a walkabout in the small New Zealand town of Cambridge, William dropped the biggest hint yet that he and Kate plan to extend their family.
On day six of their tour, they braved drizzly conditions to greet well-wishers including Briton Cynthia Read, who was commissioned by the New Zealand government to make a merino wool shawl for George. The Duke thanked Mrs Read for the gift before telling her: ‘You might have to make another one soon!’
Mrs Read, who emigrated from Newcastle-upon-Tyne eight years ago with her husband Ken, said: ‘The way William said it was like he was letting me in on a secret.’
The Royal couple arrived in Dunedin in southern New Zealand - which, like much of the south of the country, has a large Scottish population - yesterday morning where, amongst other things, they attended a church service and each coached a children's rugby team.
The competitive couple spent the morning at a children's rugby tournament at the Forsyth Barr Stadium, where the Duke of Cambridge won royal bragging rights when he coached a 'Rippa Rugby' team to victory over opponents led by his wife.
Still smarting from the defeat he suffered last week when the Duchess comprehensively won a yachting challenge, the Duke was determined to win on the pitch.
His team of ten youngsters, Clutha, did not let him down and they were comfortable winners against Kate's group, Pirates, in front of thousands of cheering fans and at the final whistle he punched the air in delight with both fists.
Kate was supported by New Zealand All Blacks captain Richie McCaw, one of the world's greatest rugby union players.
The Duke could not help teasing his wife and looked in her direction and said 'next time, next time'.
Rippa Rugby is a form of safe, non-contact rugby in rugby union-mad New Zealand for children.
So, William, are you firing the starting gun on baby number two? Prince drops biggest hint yet telling woman who made George's shawl: 'You might have to make another!'
Prince William made the unguarded comment to Cynthia Read yesterday
Mrs Read had been commissioned by the New Zealand government to make a wool shawl for baby George
George was conceived shortly after the couple returned from a Royal tour
By Katie Nicholl
12 April 2014
Daily Mail
Daily Mail
He has been the star of the Royal Tour Down Under so far, but Prince George may soon have to share the spotlight with a sibling, according to the Duke of Cambridge.
In an unguarded comment on a walkabout in the small New Zealand town of Cambridge, William dropped the biggest hint yet that he and Kate plan to extend their family.
On day six of their tour, they braved drizzly conditions to greet well-wishers including Briton Cynthia Read, who was commissioned by the New Zealand government to make a merino wool shawl for George. The Duke thanked Mrs Read for the gift before telling her: ‘You might have to make another one soon!’
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The look of love: Kate stares adoringly at William as rumours abound that the couple could be expecting their second child
Mrs Read, who emigrated from Newcastle-upon-Tyne eight years ago with her husband Ken, said: ‘The way William said it was like he was letting me in on a secret.’
Given her history of severe morning sickness – Kate spent three days in hospital while carrying George – it is likely the Duchess would be advised not to fly or undertake an arduous tour while in the early stages of a second pregnancy.
However, Royal insiders point out that George was conceived just weeks after the couple returned from their Far East tour in September 2012, and it is possible they plan to start trying for another child once they have finished this trip.
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William's team beats Kate's team in Rippa Rugby
The competitive couple spent the morning at a children's rugby tournament, where the Duke of Cambridge won royal bragging rights when he coached a 'Rippa Rugby' team to victory over opponents led by his wife.
The venue for the rematch was the Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin, New Zealand and featured two teams of youngsters who had won through to the final of a day-long tag rugby tournament for five to seven-year-olds.
Rippa rugby is a non-contact form of the sport designed for primary school children with players ripping a flag from the belt of an opponent instead of tackling them.
Huriana Manuel, captain of New Zealand's women's rugby sevens team, joined William in supporting the winning Clutha team from the town of South Otago near Dunedin.
She said the Duke was determined not to lose: 'He brought something special to the team, he's lost a few competitions to his wife and he really wanted to win.
'He said to the kids "make sure you go out there and enjoy yourself" and the win followed from that.'
Everyone having fun: Rippa Rugby is a contact-free version of the sport which allows children to learn how to play without the physical element of tackling
The Duchess looked casual and sporty in a Jonathan Saunders jumper, skinny jeans and Mint Velvet pumps. She changed out of the formal blue dress she wore to church earlier in the morning
New Zealand All Blacks captain Richie McCaw was on hand to give support to Kate as she led the Pirates, a Dunedin team.
William first watched McCaw play on New Zealand soil when he flew to the Commonwealth country to follow the British & Irish Lions tour against the All Blacks in 2005.
The royals both chatted at length to their teams before they took to the pitch and clapped whenever one of the diminutive players, both girls and boys, scampered over the line for a try.
Gemma Tuhega, a teacher who was with the Pirates, said: 'She didn't know too much about the game she was getting to know the kids.'
At the presentation ceremony the royal couple handed out medals to all the teams and then personally put them round the necks of the winning team and runners-up.
McCaw gave a short speech and joked how the scores were now even between the Duke and Duchess.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge arrived in Dunedin this morning to grey skies and the sound of the bagpipes, as William commented: 'It's like being in Edinburgh.'
The couple disembarked their RNZAF jet - on which they were joined by the entire British media - to a traditional Maori welcome from the Ngai Tahu tribe, the main tribe on the South Island.
Elders from the tribe conducted a welcome - or Powhiri - which involved chanting at the couple from some distance before inviting them forward.
Although their voices could barely be heard over the roars of nearby planes, the welcome committee carried out the chant with enthusiasm.
Then William and Kate walked forward and rubbed noses with their hosts in a traditional Maori welcome known as a hongi.
Five-year-old Mataawhio Matahaere-vieint greeted the Duchess of Cambridge, 32, with a curtsey and a hongi - a traditional Maori greeting, which involves touching noses - before the little girl gave the Duchess of Cambridge a hug.
Afterwards the little girl said: 'I asked if I could hug her and she said yes, she was beautiful.'
After greeting Kate with a hug, five-year-old Mataawhio gave her books for Prince George.
Ripeka Potiki, 7, gave the royal couple a gift of albatross feathers from the royal albatross who have their only mainland breeding colony in Dunedin.
William spoke to tribal elder Edward Ellison, 63.
He said: 'William said thank you very much for the welcome.
'He said that it was a bit like being in Edinburgh with the conditions, the weather and the bagpipes.
'We are very excited they're here.
'They are an inspirational couple and we hear a lot about them.'
The piper at the airport reflected the large Scottish population in Dunedin.
A small crowd had gathered at the entrance of the airport to cheer and wave to the couple as they got into their car to make their way to a morning church service.
Stepping off the couple's Air Force jet, the Duchess of Cambridge looked elegant as she paraded a New Zealand designer - of sorts - for the first time on the royal tour.
Wickstead, a favourite of Prime Minister's wife Samantha Cameron, is New Zealand born but London based.
She paired the coat with a hat by Jane Taylor, a favourite milliner, and the Queen's diamond fern brooch, a gift from the women of Auckland in 1954, for the second time on the trip.
On a visit to Hamilton yesterday the Duchess was wearing a stunning green Erdem coat, but admitted to locals that her own husband wasn't a fan.
She told Evie Hayes, 68, who admired her outfit: 'I like it but William thinks it is a bit bright.'
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