Looking every bit the King-in-training, Prince William slipped into his grandmother’s shoes with ease hosting his first investiture ceremony to present an OBE to tennis champion Andy Murray.
The Scotsman was awarded the Officer of the Order of the British Empire for ‘Services to Tennis’ following his US Open and Olympic victories.
The Duke of Cambridge smiled proudly and talked to Murray while presenting the medal to the Wimbledon winner.
“He asked about my recent back surgery which I had a few weeks ago and how I was feeling after Wimbledon,” Murray said, and added he had given the second-in-line a ribbing about his handwriting.
“I teased him a bit as he had sent me a note before Wimbledon wishing me luck and his wife had written me a letter afterwards,” the cheeky sports star said.
“Her handwriting was beautiful and I told him how fantastic it was compared to his.”
Murray, who has met the Prince a few times before, said he seemed very relaxed — perhaps more so than the OBE recipient himself who was worried he might not make the ceremony after routine drug testers showed up at his home ten minutes before he was supposed to leave for Buckingham Palace.
“In the middle of a drug test hahaha I’m goin to be late!!” he said on Twitter before the ceremony.
“It’s part of the job but when you have a day like today you are looking forward to, it’s the last thing you need,” he said later.
Later in the day he shared a picture of his dog, Maggie May, who has a significant social media following herself, showing off his OBE medal on Twitter.
Order of the Border Empire pic.twitter.com/g7YD6sEOdP
Along with Murray, Prince William presented awards including an OBE to Vicar of Dibley producer Jon Plowman, and administering his first knighthood to Sir Kenneth Gibson for his services to education.
It is the first ceremony of the Duke’s royal career, who having given up operational duties with the RAF is said to be in a ‘transitional’ year and considering his future public service options.
