Playful Prince is on the ball with beach crowd

PRINCE William played an impromptu game of beach volleyball yesterday during his first trip away from wife Kate since she was diagnosed with cancer.

- Emily Ferguson

His two-day tour is a hopeful sign that the Princess of Wales is doing well.

William, 41, certainly seemed in high spirits as he joined children from a local lifesaving club on Fistral Beach in Newquay, Cornwall despite being suited and booted.

He made one little boy's day by signing his plaster cast and telling him: "Shhh, don't tell anyone. I'm not meant to do that!"

The Prince admitted the warm sunshine on one of the best surfing beaches in Europe made him desperate to get into the sea and on to a board.

Reminiscing about his regular childhood holidays to the area, he said: "It brings it all back. I want to put on a wetsuit and get out there now!"

Instead he made do with taking off his jacket and rolling up his shirt sleeves as he mingled with the large crowd attracted by his visit and the sun.

He met staff and youngsters from organisations promoting safety in the sea, including Holywell Bay Newquay and Surf Life Saving Clubs, which train and support volunteers to save lives.

As the Prince watched demonstrations of training drills including surfboard skills and cardiopulmonary resuscitation he asked one group of teenagers: "What is it like out there? Looks good for a few waves."

William was then drawn to a volleyball game and could not resist asking to join in.

His prowess at serving proved too much for the opposition, who repeatedly knocked the ball into the net while attempting a return.

Exhausting