Prince William glides into family man role in Birmingham visit
He may be a newcomer to this fatherhood lark but Prince William showed he is a dab hand at dealing with babies when he swapped tales of parenthood during a trip to the West Midlands.
The Duke of Cambridge was besieged with beaming children during his visit who were delighted when he joined them to act out a story and he even found the time to discuss a familiar topic among all new parents – teething.
He was in Birmingham for his first visit to the Midlands since becoming a father.
During a stop-off at the Library of Birmingham he found himself sandwiched between excited pupils from Chandos Primary School in Highgate.
The sight of so many youngsters may be a daunting one for most but the Duke was quick to get involved – joining in with youngsters as they acted out the movements to the well known children's story We're Going On A Bear Hunt which was read by children's librarian Amanda Murphy in the children's section.
Like most dads though he was quick to admit afterwards: "I feel like a nap now."
The children crowded round him as they presented him with a card they had made, evidently not daunted by his royal status.
Chatting to staff, William said of the children: "I could spend the day just talking to them, I had such a fun conversation with them."
He was presented with a bag of books and a library card for his young son, Prince George, for which he thanked staff. He was also given a cake in the shape of a toy box.
The name on the membership card read: 'HRH Prince George of Cambridge', and during his visit William revealed he had started reading to his son.
Talking to six-year-old Katie Wyatt, he said he had started showing George the pictures in story books.
Katie, from Birmingham, said after she met the Duke: "I said to him 'Do you read to George?'
"He said 'I just let him look at the pictures, he likes to play with the pictures'."
Inside the library, which opened in September and attracts around 9,940 people a day, he also crouched down to talk to three-year-old Jasmine Green. Her parents, Michelle and James, said they had been in the library just to have a look around and were delighted to have met William.
Mrs Green, from Wolverhampton, said: "It was really, really lovely.
"He was very charming and handsome.
"He was chatting to Jasmine about nursery school and what she enjoys doing, and if she had any favourite teachers."
He also unveiled a plaque to commemorate his visit and listened to a poem called Family, recited by former Birmingham Poet Laureate Stephen Morrison-Burke, which was written especially for the Duke's visit, about the importance and joys of families, as well as the trials and tribulations.
Outside, many people in the crowd, undeterred by the heavier rain, cheered and clapped as the Duke left.
It was during a visit to the South & City College in the city that he shared his thoughts on teething. Hilary Smith-Allen, who represented the British Leadership Foundation, also spoke to The Prince about young people's voices being listened to in society.
