Kate Middleton and Prince William laugh as they play golf on farm visit complete with sheep and tractor drive

 PRINCE William and Kate Middleton laughed as they played golf during a visit to a farm. 

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge were all smiles as they carried out royal duties on a visit to the Cheesy Waffles Project at the Belmont Community Centre in Durham.

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The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge played golf during a visit to the Cheesy Waffles Project at the Belmont Community Centre in DurhamCredit: PA

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Kate stepped up to putt at the course during their visitCredit: PA

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The Duchess of Cambridge laughed heartily as she connected with the ballCredit: PA

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Kate and Wills also took turns to drive a tractor at Manor Farm in Little Stainton, DurhamCredit: PA

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Kate was all smiles as she stepped out from the tractor after taking the wheelCredit: PA

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Kate petted one of the adorable lambs on the farm this morningCredit: Reuters

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Kate and Wills were dressed casually for the countryside for their engagementCredit: Reuters

William and Kate were visiting The Cheesy Waffles Project (CWP), which provides young people with learning disabilities with the skills and independence they need for adulthood.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge demonstrated their golfing skills on the grass outside the project, with Kate laughing heartily after she connected with the ball.

The project has benefited from the couple's Royal Wedding Charitable Gift fund, which totalled more than £1 million when they married almost exactly a decade ago.

It marks one of the Cambridge's first royal engagements following the death of Prince Philip.

During the visit, Wills made a touching reference to his late grandfather as as he chatted to teenagers who had completed their Duke of Edinburgh award.

Wills told the youngsters Philip "would have been so pleased" that they had received their awards.

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Farmer Stewart Chapman sat in the cab giving instruction on how to drive the tractor as the couple separately took charge of the heavy duty vehicleCredit: Reuters

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During the visit, the Duke and Duchess were taken on a tour of the farmCredit: Reuters

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Kate and Wills spoke to children from the Cheesy Waffles projectCredit: AFP

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Will and Kate visited the cattle, calving and lambing sheds with owners Clare Wise and Stewart ChapmanCredit: PA

The Cambridges also paid a visit to the family-run Manor Farm in Little Stainton, Durham this afternoon. 

The Duke and Duchess enjoyed a full tour of the farm, including to the cattle, calving and lambing sheds, with owners Clare Wise and Stewart Chapman.

Dressed casually for the countryside, Kate and Wills laughed as they took turns behind the wheel of a tractor.

Farmer Stewart Chapman sat in the cab giving instruction on how to drive the tractor as the couple separately took charge of the heavy duty vehicle.

William went first, with Kate asking for a turn afterwards.

The couple were also pictured petting the adorable lambs at the farm as they spoke to Ms Wise and Mr Chapman about how they protect the health and welfare of their livestock.

They later joined a discussion with local farmers about their experiences of the last year, including the mental-health impact of the pandemic for the farming community and the challenges of balancing home-schooling with farm work.

It was the Cambridges' first official in-person engagement away from London since their royal train tour in December last year.

William has previously told of his passion for farming, revealing that his children are already playing on tractors.

Two weeks of royal mourning for the Duke of Edinburgh ended on Friday for the Windsors - and senior royals are expected to continue their duties.During the visit, William expressed his sympathy for farmers who have lost the social impact of their industry during the pandemic - including market stalls and country fairs.

He said: “That is one of the ongoing things, being at home all day, it starts to wear on people and the pandemic has take away those coping mechanisms.”