The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have heard the personal stories of paramedics on the first day of their mini tour of the UK.
The royal couple met Scottish paramedics in Newbridge, near Edinburgh, their first stop on a three-day train tour of England, Scotland and Wales.
They thanked staff for their efforts in doing their job during the pandemic while also bearing the burden of being affected by tragedy themselves.
It emerged during the visit that the duke and duchess had sent a bouquet of flowers to the family of a veteran paramedic who died last month after re-enlisting in April, four years after his retirement.
Rod Moore, from Falkirk, died aged 63 after contracting coronavirus. His funeral was due to take place during the royal visit.
Kate was also revealed to have been secretly volunteering since the start of the pandemic for a call service that helps tackle loneliness.
Len Gardner, 85, told The Sun that the duchess had made two calls to him earlier in the year.
The royal later sent the pensioner a pasta machine and flour from the Buckingham Palace kitchen.
“Never in my wildest imagination did I think I would be talking on the phone to the future Queen of England,” Mr Gardner said.
“I will treasure our conversations for the rest of my life. Those calls helped me because they gave me something to look forward to.”
The duke and duchess of Cambridge set off for their royal tour from Euston station in London on Sunday night.
Before boarding the royal train, the couple wrote a personal message of thanks to transport workers on a London Underground service information board.
It read: "Thank you to all transport workers everywhere for keeping the country moving throughout this difficult year.
"Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas! Catherine. William"
Kensington Palace announced the trip on Saturday, December 5, saying the couple wanted to pay "tribute to the inspiring work of those who have gone above and beyond to support communities during this challenging year for the nation".
They will meet "frontline workers, teachers, mental health professionals, care workers, schoolchildren and young people across England, Scotland and Wales to pass on the nation’s thanks for their efforts this year".
William and Kate boarded the train, which has been used by British monarchs since Queen Victoria, at London’s Euston Station on Sunday, December 6.
As the couple embarked upon their journey, 1980s pop star Shakin' Stevens was on hand to perform his Christmas classic, Merry Christmas Everyone, for transport workers at the station.
The Daily Mail reported that Stevens, 72, was "over the moon" to play for the couple.
"I’m loving it, it was lovely to be invited," the Welsh singer said. "And it was them who chose the song."
The tour is expected to stop in a number of cities across the UK, including Edinburgh, Manchester and Cardiff. In a typical year, the couple would have made a number of official UK visits and trips, but the majority have been cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The official Kensington Royal Twitter account shared a video of them boarding the Royal Train to start their journey:
What did Kate Middleton wear to start the tour?
Setting off on a chilly London night, the Duchess of Cambridge wore a dark green coat by Alexander McQueen, which she previously wore in January and March this year.
It was worn over Ralph Lauren Collection boots, with a Grace Han handbag. She also wore her Maple Leaf tartan scarf by York Scarves, which she first wore during the couple's 2016 Canada tour, and an Amaia Kids mask in a new Liberty of London print.
The Duke of Cambridge wore a dark navy wool coat to set off, over blue chinos with a burgundy scarf, along with a blue fabric face mask.
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Read more:
Kate Middleton's sapphire and diamond engagement ring voted world's most popular
Royals and their dogs: 21 photos of royal families from around the world with their pet pooches
Queen Elizabeth II appears in public wearing mask for the first time
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The biog
Name: Fareed Lafta
Age: 40
From: Baghdad, Iraq
Mission: Promote world peace
Favourite poet: Al Mutanabbi
Role models: His parents
Global state-owned investor ranking by size
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Japan
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Norway
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Canada
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The%20specs
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Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
England's Ashes squad
Joe Root (captain), Moeen Ali, Jimmy Anderson, Jofra Archer, Jonny Bairstow, Stuart Broad, Rory Burns, Jos Buttler, Sam Curran, Joe Denly, Jason Roy, Ben Stokes, Olly Stone, Chris Woakes.
The specs: 2017 GMC Sierra 1500 Denali
Price, base / as tested Dh207,846 / Dh220,000
Engine 6.2L V8
Transmission Eight-speed automatic
Power 420hp @ 5,600rpm
Torque 624Nm @ 4,100rpm
Fuel economy, combined 13.5L / 100km
MEDIEVIL%20(1998)
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Series result
1st ODI Zimbabwe won by 6 wickets
2nd ODI Sri Lanka won by 7 wickets
3rd ODI Sri Lanka won by 8 wickets
4th ODI Zimbabwe won by 4 wickets
5th ODI Zimbabwe won by 3 wickets
From Zero
Artist: Linkin Park
Label: Warner Records
Number of tracks: 11
Rating: 4/5
RESULTS
5pm Maiden (PA) Dh70,000 (Dirt) 1,400m
Winner AF Nashrah, Tadhg O’Shea (jockey), Ernst Oertel (trainer)
5.30pm Maiden (PA) Dh70,000 (D) 1,400m
Winner Mutaqadim, Riccardo Iacopini, Ibrahim Al Hadhrami.
6pm Maiden (PA) Dh70,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner Hameem, Jose Santiago, Abdallah Al Hammadi.
6.30pm Maiden (PA) Dh70,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner AF Almomayaz, Sandro Paiva, Ali Rashid Al Raihe.
7pm Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 (D) 1,800m
Winner Dalil Al Carrere, Fernando Jara, Mohamed Daggash.
7.30pm Handicap (TB) Dh70,000 (D) 1,000m
Winner Lahmoom, Royston Ffrench, Salem bin Ghadayer.
8pm Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 (D) 1,000m
Winner Jayide Al Boraq, Bernardo Pinheiro, Khalifa Al Neyadi.
The specs: 2018 BMW X2 and X3
Price, as tested: Dh255,150 (X2); Dh383,250 (X3)
Engine: 2.0-litre turbocharged inline four-cylinder (X2); 3.0-litre twin-turbo inline six-cylinder (X3)
Power 192hp @ 5,000rpm (X2); 355hp @ 5,500rpm (X3)
Torque: 280Nm @ 1,350rpm (X2); 500Nm @ 1,520rpm (X3)
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic (X2); Eight-speed automatic (X3)
Fuel consumption, combined: 5.7L / 100km (X2); 8.3L / 100km (X3)
The specs
Engine 60kwh FWD
Battery Rimac 120kwh Lithium Nickel Manganese Cobalt Oxide (LiNiMnCoO2) chemistry
Power 204hp Torque 360Nm
Price, base / as tested Dh174,500
Tearful appearance
Chancellor Rachel Reeves set markets on edge as she appeared visibly distraught in parliament on Wednesday.
Legislative setbacks for the government have blown a new hole in the budgetary calculations at a time when the deficit is stubbornly large and the economy is struggling to grow.
She appeared with Keir Starmer on Thursday and the pair embraced, but he had failed to give her his backing as she cried a day earlier.
A spokesman said her upset demeanour was due to a personal matter.
'Midnights'
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TOUCH RULES
Touch is derived from rugby league. Teams consist of up to 14 players with a maximum of six on the field at any time.
Teams can make as many substitutions as they want during the 40 minute matches.
Similar to rugby league, the attacking team has six attempts - or touches - before possession changes over.
A touch is any contact between the player with the ball and a defender, and must be with minimum force.
After a touch the player performs a “roll-ball” - similar to the play-the-ball in league - stepping over or rolling the ball between the feet.
At the roll-ball, the defenders have to retreat a minimum of five metres.
A touchdown is scored when an attacking player places the ball on or over the score-line.
