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Duchess Kate bravely handles enormous crab on fishing trip

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Sophie Vokes-Dudgeon
Head of Digital
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No fear here! Duchess Kate showed her true outdoorsy spirit during a fishing trip in Haida Gwaii on Friday.

The plucky royal was joined by her husband, Prince William, and a group of youngsters from the Skidegate Youth Centre as she boarded the Highland Ranger fishing boat to set sail on the Hectate Strate for a world-class fishing trip.

William and Kate bravely handled huge Dungeness Crabs

Owner, operator and captain of the boat, Danny Robertson, 48, told reporters the Duke and Duchess had been excited about the trip. "I heard they're both into the outdoors so this is a great opportunity for them to experience the incredible scenes here," he said, adding the conditions were perfect with "very calm waters, good weather."

The royal couple were given bright red life jackets to wear before the boat pulled out of the dock on to the lake. As their speed increased, the chilly duchess paused to put on a khaki waterproof jacket.

The interested duo were instructed in the art of salmon fishing, shown how to throw out a fishing line and looked on eagerly while their instructor demonstrated. Unfortunately, on this occasion, their salmon fishing attempts were not successful, but when they headed over to check on two crab traps which had been left the previous day near Sky Ass island, their patience was rewarded – three large Dungeness Crabs were in the second trap.

Prince William and Kate were at home on the fishing boat

“They're so big!" Kate gasped, and without being prompted, the brave duchess asked the guide if she could hold one. Both she and Prince William put their hands into the trap and pulled out a giant crab. "That one's lively" Kate joked to William about his.

The couple's fishing trip in Haida Gwaii was the final engagement of the day for the royal visitors whose entire trip to Canada is now drawing to a close.

Today, the duo will visit a family centre and a mental health centre in Victoria, before embarking on their 31st and final engagement of the tour - a visit to the Sail and Life Training Society Tall Ship in Victoria Harbour.

Prince William, Kate and their two children, Prince George and Princess Charlotte, will then wave an official goodbye to the country who has welcomed them with opened arms for the past eight days, at Victoria Harbour airport.

Stay tuned to HELLO! Online for the final day’s coverage from our royal reporter Emily Nash, and get ready for our next picture-packed issue of HELLO! magazine, out Monday

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