Her Royal Hugness: Kate and Wills celebrate with a rare public display of affection as Britain's cyclists continue Team GB's Olympic domination

By Bianca London


If Team GB are planning on giving out medals to their top supporters the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge should be in the running for gold.

After enthusiastically cheering on Andy Murray on the tennis courts of Wimbledon, South West London today, the couple zipped across town in time to see the British men's pursuit team smash the world record in their qualifying round and then go on to win gold in a breathtaking race.

No doubt Kate and William took advantage of the Olympic lanes in the Capital reserved for VIPs, and style icon Kate even found time to change out of her Stella McCartney shift dress and in to a sporty white polo shirt.


Jubilation: The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge show their delight after Sir Chris Hoy, Philip Hindes and Jason Kenny stormed to success in the velodrome yesterday afternoon


William and Kate embrace in the crowd as Team GB storms home in the velodrome


The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are close as they join in the fun with Prince Harry at the Veledrome with a wave

Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge and Prince William Duke of Cambridge cheer trackside while watching the cycling at the Velodrome

Joined by Prince Harry and Sophie Countess of Wessex in the seats the young Royal couple looked delighted to be attending yet another Olympic event.

Since the Games started on Saturday the two of them have taken full advantage of their VIP invites and have already been guests of honour at the equestrian events two days running and today's tennis.

Super supporter William visited Wembley to watch Team GB play football at the weekend as well as joining brother Harry at the rowing event in day five.

And they even found time to visit the athletes in the Olympic Village together on Tuesday where swimmer Rebecca Adlington gushed about Kate's navy blue shoes.


Another event, another Mexican wave ... the couple join in with the crowd at the velodrome with William watching them on the big screen up above


The delighted Duchess beams with excitement as she chats to Princess Anne's husband, Sir Timothy Laurence, and prepares to watch Chris Hoy and his pursuit team race in the final


Harry gives the cyclists a thumbs up as his brother and sister-in-law concentrate on the programme of events


Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, Prince Harry and Prime Minister David Cameron laugh as they watch the track cycling on Day 6 of the London 2012 Olympic Games


Prince William, Duke of Cambridge speaks with Prime Minister David Cameron

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prime Minister David Cameron take part in a Mexican wave as they watch the track cycling

As an ambassador for Team GB Kate's presence is a brilliant support for the team, and she followed up yesterday's patriotic wardrobe choice of a Team GB Union Jack scarf with a an official polo shirt from the organisation.

Husband William wore a matching navy version with smart chinos.

Arriving at the veledrome just in time to see Team GB break a world record in the qualifying round, the couple laughed and joked with other VIP guests including Prime Minister David Cameron who also joined the pair in a group Mexican wave, their second of the day.

Prior to the first record-breaking round world champion cyclist and pundit Mark Cavendish told the BBC: 'I'm not just expecting a win, I'm expecting them to smash it. They've got the best team in the world. They're on form, I know they are. They will break world records.'

He was right, and minutes later to the delight of the Royal spectators and the 4000 strong crowd in the velodrome the British team broke the world record in a time of three minutes 52.499 seconds.

Mark said: 'It was incredible. It was so smooth. They stayed so smooth and consistently kept plugging away and the world record came. I think they have got more to come. They have three rides at the Olympic Games, so they have to keep a little bit back but I think they will give more.'


Fans cheer on Great Britain's Chris Hoy after the team sprint qualifying on the first day of the track cycling at the Velodrome in the Olympic Park


Watch out Wiggins, golden boy Chris Hoy celebrates his win by raising a fist to the ecstatic crowds before accepting his fifth gold medal alongside Jason Kenny and Phil Hindes


In formation: Great Britain's men ride towards their new world record as the Velodrome crowd look on


Team GB sprint team Jason Kenny, Philip Hindes and Sir Chris Hoy pose with their gold medals

Fans celebrate in the Olympic Park as Sir Chris Hoy wins the gold medal in the Men's Team Sprint event

Jason Kenny, Chris Hoy and Phil Hindes then went on to beat France in the final breaking another world record and winning another gold for team GB.

Earlier today The Duke and Duchess were court side in the Royal Box at Wimbledon to cheer Andy Murray on to victory in the men's singles quarter finals against Nicolas Almagro of Spain.

After showing her emotion at Murray's Wimbledon defeat earlier this year, Kate seemed overjoyed to be returning to Centre Court to support the British favourite.

Kate and her husband William got into the supportive spirit quickly and joined in with another Mexican wave that ran through the crowd during the match.


Prince William and Kate joined the crowd in doing the wave at the match between Andy Murray and Nicolas Almagro at the All England Lawn Tennis Club at Wimbledon today


The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge really got into the spirit of support Andy Murray in the men's singles quarter finals at Wimbledon today

The young Royals were great sports and got involved with the crowds cheering on Andy Murray at the match today

Kate looked as impossibly chic as ever in an electric blue £515 Stella McCartney knee-length dress which she teamed with her new favourite Smythe navy blazer with gold buttons that she has been spotted wearing to two Olympic events already this week.

Known for her wardrobe choice recyclables, Kate recently wore the blue dress to the opening of the The Road To 2012: Aiming High exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery, which she teamed with a £49,000 gold hooped necklace.

She also wore her signature £145 Givenchy sunglasses to the event, which she has been sporting regularly throughout the Olympics.

The young Royals seemed to be enjoying the sunny day on Centre Court and, as keen tennis fans, they seemed delighted at being able to watch such a nail-biting match live.

The couple were accompanied by the president of the International Tennis Federation, Francesco Ricci Bitti, and were welcomed with a round of applause from the stands.

The Duke and Duchess looked relaxed as they chatted to each other between the points, and seemed happy to join in the fun with the crowd, taking part in the Mexican waves which spread around the stands during the change-overs.

The couple rose to their feet when Murray clinched victory in an emphatic two sets, winning by 6-4 6-1.

They were given another round of applause as they left the stands, while Murray, who will now play either Novak Djokovic or Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the last four, walked off the court to deafening cheers.

Andy Murray, one of Team GB's strong podium hopefuls, has moved within one match of securing at least a silver medal at the Olympic Games after dismantling Spaniard Nicolas Almagro in today's quarter-final.

The Scot - who lost only a month ago in the Wimbledon final to Roger Federer - is desperate to earn a gold medal at the Games after his plucky defeat at SW19, and must progress through the semi-final and the final to fulfill his dream.

Serbia's Novak Djokovic or France's Jo-Wilfried Tsonga await the Scot now, and he could meet world No 1 Federer in the final.

Being cheered on by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, his Mother, Judy, and girlfriend Kim Sears - the Scot sought to take the game to his opponent.

After winning he threw his wrist bands in the air, and roared before his signature salute to the skies before leaving the court, proving just how much an Olympic podium place would mean to him.

After his tearful Wimbledon final defeat to Federer, Murray is on course to take an Olympic medal one way or the other. But with Djokovic or Tsonga lying in wait, it will be tough for the Scot to achieve bronze or silver.

Speaking after his win he said: 'We get to watch a lot of the Olympics on the TV, and we saw cycling and rowing starting to pick up the medal count yesterday and the team is doing well, so hopefully I can add to that.

'The pressure and the atmosphere is different for the Olympics, but once I'm on court, I'm trying to play the way I played at Wimbledon. If you try and change, it generally doesn't work out that well.'


The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge looked delighted with Murray's victory today which sets him in a good position for taking home a medal


The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge looked very happy as they watched Great Britain's Andy Murray in action, Kate, who is a keen tennis fan regularly watches the sport

Kate looked effortlessly chic in a bright blue knee-length dress which she matched with her favourite navy blazer and a blue velvet clutch. The electric blue Stella McCartney number was Kate's outfit choice just a few weeks ago at the opening of a new exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery

Kate and William avidly watched on with tense expressions as Murray suffered a slight wobble in the fourth game when he double-faulted twice, but held and then broke his opponent again in the following game with a brilliant forehand.

The Scot held superbly before breaking the Spaniard again in the seventh game to seal a victory that was greeted by a standing ovation from the crowd, including the Royal couple.

Despite the crowd's enthusiasm for the British number one's Olympics bid, there were still rows of empty seats in the stands, particularly in the lower tiers.

Hundreds of fans visiting the All England Club without tickets to the match gathered outside the court on Murray Mound to watch the action on the big screen as the sun shone down.

Murray was delighted with the quickfire victory in front of William and Kate.

He said: 'I didn't speak to them after the match but it's always nice when you're playing in front of royalty.

'When you get people like that coming along it helps raise the profile of the sport.

'It was a good performance today. I served well and that helped. It was good to get it finished early. I didn't want a long match because I am playing in the doubles this afternoon. Now I hope I can get a medal.'

Murray was disappointed to see rows of empty seats on Court One, however, and urged organisers to make sure the stands are full for his semi-final, and Sunday's medal matches.

'I would like to see all the seats full in all of the stadium but for whatever reason they haven't been,' the Scot said.

'The support inside and outside the stadiums has been great so hopefully over the weekend we will get all the courts packed.

'Centre Court was really busy the last two rounds I have played on there and hopefully they will all be full. Everyone wants to see that.

'Lots of people want to see the Games, there are lots of people trying to get tickets and it's not easy so I don't want to see any empty seats.'


The young Royals both looked effortlessly smart in the Royal box today as they cheered Andy Murray on to victory. William was once again spotted sporting his Team GB pin


Thank heavens for that: Murray did his signature salute to the skies after winning against Almagro at the quarter finals match today


Kate and William were immersed in the match and looked tense as they watched the Olympic hopeful play


Tennis fans gathered to watch Andy Murray play Nicolas Almagro in the Quarterfinal of Men's Singles Tennis on Day 6 of the London 2012 Olympic Games at Wimbledon


source:dailymail