East Antrim MLA extends invite for '˜Workshy William' to visit Carrickfergus

The Duke of Cambridge has found himself on thin ice after it emerged he skipped a major Commonwealth Day event to go on a ski trip.

The Prince found himself branded ‘Workshy William’ and ‘Throne Idle’ after it was revealed he had been partying on a ‘lads only’ trip in the Swiss resort of Verbier while his wife Kate stayed at home with their children, and just hours before fellow Royals attended a Commonwealth Service at Westminster Abbey.

Pictures of Prince William high-fiving Australian model Sophie Taylor made front page news while videos of him ‘dad dancing’ in a night club also went viral online.

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According to listings in the Court Circular, this year Prince William has performed just 13 royal duties compared to 24 by his 90-year-old grandmother, The Queen, who was sick for most of January.

The UUP’s Roy Beggs said he would prefer it if Prince William had been playing a role in marking Commonwealth Day, but reminded people of the Duke of Cambridge’s other commitments as a pilot for East Anglia Air Ambulance.

He said: “We have to be aware that he is attempting to hold down a full time job and is a father of two young children. As a result he might not be able to carry out as many public engagements as he’d otherwise be able to.”

One of William and Kate’s official titles is Baron and Baroness Carrickfergus though they did not pay the town a visit on either of their two previous trips to Northern Ireland.

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The East Antrim MLA said although the current situation in Carrick was not conducive to a Royal visit, he would hope William, Kate and their children could make it there soon.

Meanwhile at Stormont, due to the short timescale after the election, the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association were unable to host a commemorative event this year.