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Travel+Leisure

Kate Middleton and Prince William Play Hockey on Sweden Trip

Jennifer Calfas
Updated

Kate Middleton and Prince William took aim in Sweden Tuesday as they tried their hands at bandy hockey, a popular sport in the country.

The Royal couple took shots on goal at an ice rink in Stockholm during their four-day tour of Sweden and Norway this week. Both the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge scored goals, with Prince William besting Middleton, 2-1, according to People.

Middleton is pregnant with the couple's third child. She is due in April — just ahead of the wedding between Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.

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Videos of the event Tuesday showed Middleton and Prince William laughing and smiling as they took shots on goal at the Vasaparken ice rink in Stockholm. Kensington Palace shared a video of Middleton's successful shot, which received cheers from a crowd of onlookers.

Prince William, Duke of Cambridge and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge laugh as they attend a Bandy hockey match where they will learn more about the popularity of the sport during day one of their Royal visit to Sweden and Norway on January 30, 2018 in Stockholm, Sweden.
Prince William, Duke of Cambridge and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge laugh as they attend a Bandy hockey match where they will learn more about the popularity of the sport during day one of their Royal visit to Sweden and Norway on January 30, 2018 in Stockholm, Sweden.
Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge practices penalty shots with the Stockholm bandy team Hammarby IF at Vasaparken on January 30, 2018 in Stockholm, Sweden.
Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge practices penalty shots with the Stockholm bandy team Hammarby IF at Vasaparken on January 30, 2018 in Stockholm, Sweden.

Middleton is no stranger to sports. The Duchess has competed at everything from volleyball to sailing to field hockey to skiing in recent years, and played several sports while in school when she was younger.

Different from traditional hockey seen in the NHL, bandy hockey originated in Cambridgeshire in England in 1813. The sport is played on a larger rink than hockey, lasts 90 minutes, uses a curved stick and features a ball instead of a puck.

Bandy player Anna Widing coached the Royal couple and complimented the their bandy hockey skills, according to the BBC. "I could see that maybe they like to beat each other," she said.

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At the event, Prince William and Middleton also sampled a hot drink called bandy portfolj, or bandy briefcase, which usually includes alcohol. Since Middleton is pregnant, she drank an alcohol-free version, according to BBC.

Bandy hockey was just the beginning of a busy trip for the Duke and Duchess. After the sport, they met with the King and Queen of Sweden, and Crown Princess Victoria and Prince Daniel at the Royal Palace of Stockholm. The couple will spend two days in total in Sweden before traveling to Norway for two more days.

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