Duchess of Cambridge is stylish on duty as she and Prince William visit riot-torn area of Birmingham
By Daily Mail Reporter
Last updated at 7:52 PM on 19th August 2011
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge today visited a community centre near the spot where three men were killed during last week's riots.
William and Kate chatted to local residents and business people at Summerfield Community Centre in Winson Green, Birmingham.
The royal couple also met local dignitaries and emergency services staff.
The centre is a short distance from the scene in Dudley Road where three men were struck by a car as they tried to protect shops and homes from looters.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge arrive in Birmingham today to visit the areas affected by last week's riots
The centre the royal couple visited was close to where Haroon Jahan, 21, and brothers Shazad Ali, 30, and Abdul Musavir, 31, died in August 10. They were buried yesterday after an open-air funeral service attended by more than 20,000 mourners
Haroon Jahan, 21, and brothers Shazad Ali, 30, and Abdul Musavir, 31, died in the early hours of August 10. They were buried yesterday after an open-air funeral service attended by more than 20,000 mourners.
The Duke and Duchess were greeted outside the community centre by Paul Sabapathy, Lord Lieutenant of the West Midlands, Councillor Anita Ward, the Lord Mayor of Birmingham, and Chris Sims, Chief Constable of West Midlands Police.
They began their visit with a private meeting with the parents of the men who were killed.
The couple spent 15 minutes speaking with the bereaved families before moving into the centre's sports hall to meet members of the emergency services and local dignitaries.
Kate wore a silk blouse and matching pencil skirt by Alexander McQueen designer Sarah Burton
Kate wore a nautical themed outfit of a navy blue pencil £580 skirt with gold buttons on the front, teamed with a £795 cream blouse with matching buttons and navy blue military style detailing. It is from a current collection designed for Alexander McQueen by Sarah Burton.
The outfit, which accentuated her slender frame, was finished with a pair of high-heeled navy blue court shoes.
William wore a navy blue suit with a pale blue shirt and a blue patterned tie.
Mandy Sankey, nurse manager at Birmingham Children's Hospital, said William and Kate seemed 'genuinely interested' in how hospitals in the city responded to the disorder.
Genuinely interested: Kate chatted with local dignitaries and emergency service workers at the centre
Sympathetic: The duchess also had a private meeting with relatives of the three men who died during last week's violence
She said: 'William said "We're sure you have already heard how grateful we are but we wanted to come here to say thank you in person".
'They seemed genuinely interested in how we dealt with it.'
Lesley Clare, a nurse at Birmingham's City Hospital, said: 'Kate was saying it must have been really hard to keep the services going.
'I asked her if it was still OK to say congratulations on the wedding and she laughed and said "Yes, it is still OK to say it, thank you".'
Touching moment: Prince William places a reassuring hand on his beaming bride's shoulder
Kate's hair looked flawless as usual, she accessorised with earrings and her engagement ring
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