PRINCE WILLIAM asked school pupils learning chopstick skills if they had eaten ‘much Chinese food’ — at the opening of a cultural centre celebrating Japan.
He looked momentarily uncomfortable before swiftly correcting himself, saying ‘Sorry, I mean Japanese food.’
The Duke of Cambridge was touring Japan House in Kensington, west London, taking in examples of the country’s finest art, design and gastronomy.
On the tour, accompanied by Japanese deputy prime minister Taro Aso, he was introduced to husband and wife design team Haruna Yamada and Hirokazu Kobayashi, who met at university.
‘Just like me and my wife,’ William told them, adding that Kate was more ‘arty and creative’ than him.
The duke also sipped sake rice wine in a morning toast, and tried some ‘delicious and amazing’ salmon sashimi prepared by famed chef Akira Shimizu, who presented him with his signature bento box.
‘My wife and I love sushi,’ William said. ‘We might have to come down here for lunch when there’s no one else down.’
William saw a demonstration of the ancient craft of copper-beating, where objects such as kettles and pots are fashioned out of a single sheet of the metal.
Japan House aims to deepen understanding of the country as it prepares to host both the 2019 Rugby World Cup and the 2020 Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games.