The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have visited Batley Community Centre to meet volunteers who have supported elderly members of the community throughout the coronavirus outbreak, on the second day of a three-day tour across the country.

The couple took some festive cheer with them on their royal train tour of the country, thanking teachers, meeting schoolchildren and praising paramedics for their efforts during the pandemic.

William and Kate, who are on a 1,250-mile whistlestop three-day trip, first went to meet ambulance staff in Newbridge, near Edinburgh, before hopping back on the train to travel to see Holy Trinity First School in Berwick-upon-Tweed in Northumberland.

William and Kate’s third stop was Batley Community Centre.

The Duchess had swapped her blue Catherine Walker coat for a navy one, while William switched his tartan scarf for an olive green one for their arrival.

The couple met volunteers from the centre who have supported elderly members of the community throughout the pandemic by sending cards, having regular phone calls and dropping off shopping, food bags and activity packs.

William and Kate also met Len Gardner, a local resident with whom the duchess has been chatting on the phone after she secretly volunteered through the NHS Volunteer Responder Check In And Chat scheme.

Brendan Cox, the widower of MP Jo Cox, welcomed William and Kate’s visit to his wife’s former constituency.

Mr Cox wrote on Twitter: “Brilliant to see the Royals go to #Batley and to see Jo’s friends @RoyalVolService with them. #ChristmasTogether.”

Mrs Cox, who was the Labour MP for Batley and Spen, was murdered by a far-right extremist in 2016.

After spending the morning in Scotland, the Royal train returned south on the East Coast Main Line, passing through York and Leeds in the early afternoon, before heading towards Dewsbury and Batley.

Having dropped the Royal couple at Batley, the impressive train, powered by two Class 67 diesel locomotives, continued through Huddersfield and was held in the loop at Marsden, before turning back to pick up William and Kate at Batley shortly before 4.45pm.

It has headed off towards the Wakefield area, before turning back again and passing through Huddersfield at tea time.

After travelling through the Colne Valley and Stanage Tunnel into the north-east, the train stopped at Manchester Victoria to allow the Duke and Duchess to meet bosses of a Mancunian charity. 

The itinerary for the tour has been kept under wraps, although it is thought the Royal couple could spend some time in Wales tomorrow.