The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge in Birmingham

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge spent today in Birmingham on a series of engagements.

First stop was Jaguar Land Rover's Solihull Manufacturing Plant, where The Duke and Duchess met staff and apprentices working in the all-new Aluminium- intensive architecture body shop. The workshop and final assembly cover an area equivalent to twenty-two football pitches.

During their tour of the plant, Their Royal Highness learnt about each car is made and in particular how mountain rescue volunteers are specially trained to use them in difficult terrains.

Also to greet them at the state-of-the-art production facility, was a group of school children from Topcliffe Primary School who won the Jaguar Primary School Challenge with their model race car.

Next The Duke and Duchess arrived at Aston Villa Football Club to see the Birmingham Coach Core apprentices.

Coach Core was founded in 2012 by The Royal Foundation to improve the availability and quality of sports coaching, whilst creating much needed employment for young people. The scheme operates in over six locations around the country – with more to follow. Coach Core has had a wider impact in local communities since. Every month 1,200 hours of coaching are delivered by each of the programmes and 100% of the graduates are in employment or training.

Lastly, The Duke and Duchess learnt more about the history of Birmingham at a whistle factory that has been operating since 1870. Family-run Acme Whistles created the first police whistle and today over 100,000 whistles are produced here each week. Many are sent abroad and others are used at home in sporting matches or by organisations such as the Metropolitan Police.

Their Royal Highnesses saw the time and skill it takes to produce each one at the factory, before unveiling a plaque to mark their visit.