Kate and Prince William visit Holmenkollen Ski Arena in Oslo. Photo / AP
Kate and Prince William visit Holmenkollen Ski Arena in Oslo. Photo / AP
The Duchess of Cambridge looked every inch the snow queen as she joined her husband on the icy ski slopes of Oslo on the final day of their Scandinavian tour.
The royal couple are wrapping up their Norway visit at Holmenkollen, where temperatures are a chilly minus 7 degrees, for a visit to the resort's famous museum and Ski Jump - one of Oslo's most iconic landmarks which can hold more than 70,000 spectators, reports the Daily Mail.
As they took in breathtaking views and watched the daredevil sport of ski jumping from the 'roof of Oslo', a mischievous Kate even tried to engage William in a playful snowball fight.
Wrapped up against the Nordic chill in a £650 ($1257) jacket from Kjus and a €30 ($50) beanie from Barts, Kate ascended to the top of ski jump to watch talented junior skiers from Norway's national team before moving to the Royal Box to observe the jumpers landing.
They also took part in a traditional pølser roast and took turns toasting marshmallows around the campfire.
The couple joined children taking part in a number of outdoor activities, from experiencing Sami tents, to roasting sausages on an open fire, and speak to some of the ski instructors that deliver sessions throughout the year to keep children active and engaged with sport as well as visit the adjoining nursery.
During their visit to Holmenkollen, they marvelled at an outfit for a tiny nine-month-old skier and saw a variety of Royal ski suits through the last century.
Asked whether they skied themselves, the Duke confirmed they tended to visit the Alps while Duchess admitted they had never tried cross-country skiing. They also ski in Scotland, she added, 'through the heather'.
Kate prepares to throw her snowball at the Prince. Photo / AP
Kate throws her snowball at Prince William. Photo / AP
After being shown an exhibit about the Roald Amundsen Expedition to South Pole, 1910-12 they were reminded that the Norwegians beat their British rivals to be first in the world to reach the pole.
After the British and Norwegian royal couples laughed, Princess Mette-Marit told the Duke: "I'm sorry."
The small Ski Museum is built into the mountain, underneath the ski jump itself. Opened in 1923 and is the world's oldest museum to devoted to skiing, it attempts to tell 4000 years of 'exciting ski history' through exhibitions.
Among the items of show were fur-lined gloves and shoes, cooking pots, tin cans, cutlery, and a camera, as well as skiis, poles, a sled, and one stuffed dog.
The royal couple went to the top of the ski jump at Holmenkollen in the snowy hills above the Norwegian capital to experience the nation's love of the great wintry outdoors, cross country skiing, and ski jumping - the sport that made Eddie the Eagle Edwards an unlikely star.
Standing on a balcony at the start house 210 ft above the ground, they watched Norwegian ski jumper Anniken Mork race down the track at 56mph before taking a leap of faith towards the ground 194ft below and landing gracefully more than 120 yards later near the bottom of the course.
"Good luck. You've got this," Prince William told her as she set off. As she disappeared into the distance in mid-air, Kate clapped with delight and the Duke said: "Wow. That was amazing."
The royal couple were accompanied by their Norwegian hosts Crown Prince Haakon and his wife Crown Princess Mette-Marit. When William asked where the jumpers should be aiming to land, Haakon pointed over the brow of a hill below and said: "The part you can't see is where you want to land."
The royal party went up one stage higher to an observation deck and took in the stunning views of Oslo below. "Wow. Amazing views," William said.
Kate watches as a child warms bread on the campfire. Photo / AP
Kate, meanwhile, was in a playful mood and made a snowball and then threw it at William. "It's too cold for snowballs," he said, smiling as the Norwegian royals stood with them.
Posing for a group picture, William complimented Norwegian photographer Krister Sorbo on his long ginger beard. "Wow, what a beard!" William said.
"Me and your brother," the photographer flashed back.
The royal party then went down to the foot of the ski jump, where up to 70,000 spectators watch big events, and spent several minutes viewing under 18 skiers from the Kollenhopp team landing at the end of their jumps.
