Kate tries to push William into water after losing dragon boat race

William and Kate went head-to-head alongside their respective 20-strong teams of rowers on the waters of Dalvey Lake on Prince Edward Island, eastern Canada yesterday – and it was the Duke who proved the more competitive as he urged his team to a narrow victory.

William was flushed with success as he stepped to the shore after the race, his check shirt and grey trousers splashed with water from his efforts, while the Duchess – dressed in black leggings and a light windcheater – briefly looked a little subdued. As he was handed a small bottle of champagne as his victory prize, the Duke told the crowd: “There’s no chivalry in sport.”

William may have had the upper hand over his wife while on the lake, but once they were back on dry land she tried to even things out by pushing him in the water. Beforehand, William was asked which team was going to win. “We are, of course,” he replied. Kate, for her part, had been somewhat less certain. “Not sure about that,” she confessed. “I’m feeling slightly nervous.”

William’s dragon boat captain, Jared Connaughton, a 200-metre runner who has competed for Canada, confirmed William had been focused on success.

He said: “We did this group huddle, and William said: ‘we’re going to win this’. He looked like a competitive guy. I’ve heard that about him, and his brother.

“Kate was laughing her head off the entire time, she was having a great time, and I could see the back of William’s head – he was focused on winning.”

The royal couple were supposed to be steering teams, but both ended up paddling furiously.