Flipping Fantastic: William and Kate Go Pancake-Tossing in Northern Ireland

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The royal couple’s first official trip to Northern Ireland coincided with Pancake Day, so there was no way they were going to leave without flipping a few.

Unusually there was no pre-visit announcement of the trip, due to security considerations. There was a heavy security presence at all times during the young couple’s visit, which started at Belfast’s City Hall, with police marksmen on the roofs of surrounding buildings and armed policemen patrolling the streets.

(More on TIME.com: Read about the couple’s trip to St.Andrews)

Prince William and Kate Middleton spent time talking to the large crowd gathered outside City Hall, and gamely took part in the traditional pastime of pancake-tossing. The princess-in-waiting was handed a frying pan by the prince and told to “have a go” by her fiancĂ©. Never one to be daunted by a challenge Miss Middleton managed a few cheffy tosses before handing the pan back to her young fans. She’s clearly a natural in the kitchen.

The couple met representatives from the Northern Ireland Cancer Fund and local dignitaries before visiting the head quarters of Youth Action Northern Ireland, a charity involved with disadvantaged children in Belfast.

(More on TIME.com: See photos of Kate Middleton here)

But despite the worthy scheduling, all the gathered onlookers really wanted to talk about was the wedding on April 29th. One lady, housewife Heather Lindsay, brought “bride” and “groom” caps for the couple to wear (the Prince “politely declined”) as her daughter was also to be married in April. “I told Kate I am also planning for a big wedding as well,” she said “I told her not to lose any more weight. She laughed and said it was all part of the wedding planning.”

And in case you’ve been wondering whether she’ll eventually be known as Kate or Catherine (which is what palace officials and William have taken to calling her), Middleton told a woman outside Belfast City Hall that, “I’m still very much Kate.” (Via BBC News)