Prince William and his wife Kate enjoyed a rare date night as they dined in a local country house hotel last week. The royal couple hadn't travelled far from their son Prince George, who they had left behind in the safe care of his nanny at Anmer Hall – their country home in Norfolk, which is located on the Queen's 20,000-acre Sandringham estate. According to The Express, William affectionately held his wife's hand as they made their way to the bar at The Kings Head Hotel in Great Bircham.
Kate and William enjoyed dinner at a local country house hotel in Norfolk
The Duke of Cambridge, who was driving, ordered a lime and soda while Kate opted for a white wine spritzer. The couple were then shown to their table where they picked the same meal of grilled fillet of black bream with roasted Mediterranean vegetables, baby spinach, marinated olives and oven-dried tomatoes with arrabiata sauce.
William then ordered two scoops of vanilla ice cream with two spoons for him and his wife to share.
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'William was extremely affectionate and considerate,' said an onlooker
Fellow diners were stunned to see the Duke and Duchess, both 32, looking casual and relaxed in their local restaurant, with a few venturing up to the royals after to greet them. "William was extremely affectionate and considerate towards Kate throughout," an onlooker told the newspaper. "They were quite flirtatious and couldn't keep their hands off each other. "When they had finished their meal, a couple of locals came up to them and said hello. They smiled and were very chatty, very accommodating. My overwhelming feeling was how normal they were. They just seemed happy to mix with the locals." William and Kate spent about two hours in the restaurant, joined by four bodyguards at a nearby table, after which they headed home to see their one-year-old son.
Kate and baby Prince George have been spending the past fortnight in Norfolk
The couple have spent the past fortnight in Norfolk overseeing renovations in their country home. Given that William is due to start his helicopter pilot job with East Anglian Air Ambulance in September, the first-time parents' stay in the country will have come as a welcome break.
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The royals are expected to divide their time between Norfolk and London, where they reside in Apartment 1A at Kensington Palace, as William's job will see him based at Cambridge and Norwich Airports – both of which are close to Anmer Hall. Kate was said to be particularly keen that Prince George spend time out of the capital and enjoy the fresh country air.