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Prince William visits Jordan ruins where Duchess of Cambridge was pictured as child

The Duke of Cambridge and Crown Prince Hussein of Jordan look at a photo of the Duchess of Cambridge as a child, when she was photographed with her family at the same spot of the Jerash archaeological site - PA
The Duke of Cambridge and Crown Prince Hussein of Jordan look at a photo of the Duchess of Cambridge as a child, when she was photographed with her family at the same spot of the Jerash archaeological site - PA

The Duke of Cambridge has visited the spot in a Roman ruined city in Jordan where his wife posed for a picture when she was a little girl.

The Duke told how the Duchess "loved" living in Jordan as a youngster, in a speech after he arrived in the country on the first day of an historic visit to the Middle East.

And he was able to see for himself the beautifully preserved first century Roman city of Jerash where the Duchess, father Michael and sister Pippa visited in the 1980s and posed as a trio for a picture.

The Duke strolled along the site's famous cardo maximus - the city's main thoroughfare lined with columns and still paved with the original stones complete in places with the groves worn by chariots.

He was joined by Jordan's Crown Prince Hussein and when he reached the spot where the picture was taken he stopped and looked at a 2ft by 3ft enlargement of the image, released just before the Cambridges married in 2011.

The Duke of Cambridge (left) and Crown Prince Hussein of Jordan look at a photo of the Duchess of Cambridge as a child, when she was photographed with her family at the same spot of the Jerash archaeological site in Jordan - Credit: Ian Vogler/PA
The Duke of Cambridge and Crown Prince Hussein of Jordan look at a photo of the Duchess of Cambridge as a child, when she was photographed with her family at the same spot of the Jerash archaeological site Credit: Ian Vogler/PA

The second-in-line to the throne laughed as looked at the picture and then pointing at the image of Mr Middleton said to the Crown Prince: "Michael's looking very smart in his flip-flops".

In scorching sunshine and dressed in a smart casually look of jacket, shirt, trousers and sunglasses, the Duke recreated the photo by standing in the same spot as his wife when a child.

He smiled and said: "Need to come back with the family for this shot."

The Duke of Cambridge (centre) during a visit to the Jerash archaeological site in Jordan - Credit: Joe Giddens /PA
The Duke of Cambridge on a visit to the Jerash archaeological site in Jordan Credit: Joe Giddens /PA

Kate's family moved to Jordan in May 1984 when she was aged two and her sister Pippa was just eight months old, after father Michael, a British Airways manager, relocated to the Jordanian capital of Amman for work.

The Duchess went to an English language nursery while her parents were in the country for almost three years, before they returned to Berkshire in 1986.

The Duke of Cambridge (centre) and Crown Prince Hussein of Jordan (right) watch a theatrical performance during a visit to the Jerash archaeological site  - Credit: Joe Giddens /PA
The Duke of Cambridge and Crown Prince Hussein of Jordan watch a theatrical performance during a visit to Jerash Credit: Joe Giddens /PA

Samia Khouri, director of museums at the Jordan's Department of Antiquities, guided the two princes around the sprawling site during a half-hour tour.

She said: "He was very surprised when he saw the photo he did not expect that. But that’s why he was here, because he wanted to take a photo at the same spot where Kate was photographed."

Duke of Cambridge Jerash - Credit: MUHAMMAD HAMED /Reuters
The Duke of Cambridge is shown around the ancient site of Jerash on Monday Credit: MUHAMMAD HAMED /Reuters

During William's visit, the site hosted a celebration for young people benefiting from the Makani programme, a nationwide charity that works with those from deprived backgrounds, especially refugee communities.

Later, the Duke travelled to the north of the country to visit a new base for the Quick Reaction Force (QRF), which has been formed with British military support.

The Duke watched the QRF practising pre-deployment drills and also met British officers on attachment to the Jordanian armed forces.

He will later visit the Dar Na'mah Centre - a project of the Princess Taghrid Institute (PTI), a charity established by Princess Taghrid to support women of all ages to develop their own livelihoods and support their families and communities.

Duke - Credit: AHMAD ABDO /AFP
Prince William and Jordanian Crown Prince Hussein bin Abdullah pose for a picture with Syrian and Jordanian school children Credit: AHMAD ABDO /AFP

At the Al Quds College William will meet a number of young Jordanians and Syrian refugees who are enrolled in its media school, training in film and music production as part of the college's partnership with Middlesex University.

The Duke will end his visit to Jordan at Marka airport where he will chat to Jordanian Air Ambulance crews and look over their helicopters before flying to Israel for the next leg of his Middle East tour.

Duke of Cambridge hails Jordan as 'beacon of hope'

The Duke of Cambridge hailed Jordan as a "beacon of hope" for the Middle East, as he spoke of his wife's fond childhood memories of living there, and addressed the plight of Palestinian refugees.

The Duke is being hosted by Crown Prince Hussein bin Abdullah II, the 23-year-old Sandhurst-trained second lieutenant in the Jordanian army with whom the Duke hopes to build a firm friendship. 

The Duke earlier used his first speech of a landmark tour to reference some of the region's difficulties, ahead of a high-stakes official visit to Israel and the Palestinian territories: a first for the Royal family. 

The Duke of Cambridge speaks to Alia Twal, the first woman pilot on Royal Jordanian Airways, as he attends the Queen's Birthday Party at UK Ambassador's residence in Amman - Credit: Arthur Edwards/PA
The Duke of Cambridge speaks to Alia Twal, the first woman pilot on Royal Jordanian Airways, as he attends the Queen's birthday party in Amman Credit: Arthur Edwards/PA

Saying Jordan should be "enormously proud" of opening its borders to those fleeing Syria, he said the country's "longstanding commitments to Palestinian refugees" was "remarkable".

Speaking at a garden party in honour of the Queen's birthday, he delivered a message from his grandmother who recalled the "special bond of friendship" she shared with the late King Hussein after they ascended to the throne exactly one month apart in 1952

'Please don't tell me the score!': Duke catches up on England game with Crown Prince

The Duke began his historic trip to the region by bonding with the Crown Prince as they watched England's World Cup match against Panama.

Crown Prince Hussein recorded the game for the pair to view later as William arrived in Jordan just as the second half began.

The Duke, who is president of the FA and a keen Aston Villa fan, spent the remainder of the day avoiding the scoreline and swore the travelling media not to tell him.

The Duke of Cambridge watches England v Panama with Jordan's Crown Prince Hussein bin Abdullah II - Credit: Twitter/@KensingtonRoyal
The Duke of Cambridge watches England v Panama with Jordan's Crown Prince Hussein bin Abdullah II Credit: Twitter/@KensingtonRoyal

Kensington Palace tweeted two pictures of the Duke and the crown prince casually dressed and sitting side by side on a sofawatching the game on a large screen at the Beit Al Urdun Palace. 

The Crown Prince of Jordan recorded the England game for the Duke of Cambridge - Credit: Twitter/@KensingtonRoyal
The Crown Prince of Jordan recorded the England game for the Duke of Cambridge Credit: Twitter/@KensingtonRoyal

The Duke also made reference to his wife, the Duchess of Cambridge, who remained at home with their three children, saying her happy childhood memories perfectly reflected Britain's ties to Jordan. 

"My wife Catherine is very sorry she cannot be here with me so soon after the birth of our son Louis, but her family remembers very fondly the almost three years she spent here as a child when her father worked for British Airways in Amman," he said. 

Kate Middleton, aged four , left, with her father and sister Pippa, in Jerash, Jordan - Credit: AP/Middleton family
The Duchess of Cambridge aged four, left, with her father Michael and sister Pippa, in Jerash, Jordan Credit: AP/Middleton family

The Duke added: "Catherine's experience is not unique – the interchange between our two countries is real and deep: work, study, tourism and family links.  

"Our historic ties and friendship are played out in the lives of thousands of people who consider both countries home." 

Trip to highlight culture - and the hopes of youth

Kensington Palace has strongly emphasised the non-political nature of the trip, underlining its purpose in highlighting the culture of the region, and the hopes of its youth.

The Duke will go on to visit young Syrian refugees in Jordan, as well as spending an afternoon on the West Bank including "events that focus on the issues facing refugee communities; opportunities to celebrate Palestinian culture, music and food; and a chance to meet a number of young Palestinians".

Prince William arrives in Amman, Jordan - Credit: Tim Rooke/REX/Shutterstock
Prince William arrives in Amman, Jordan Credit: Tim Rooke/REX/Shutterstock

His first day of activities saw him visit FabLab, an initiatives to equip young people with technology skills, and deliver a message of "staunch and long held" friendship from his grandmother the Queen at a party thrown at the British Embassy in her honour.