The Duke of Cambridge beat his wife – who used to belong to the Sisterhood boat crew – by 10 lengths as they each joined a team to race across Dalvay Lake on Prince Edward Island in Canada on the fifth day of their tour of the North American country.

Before the contest the prince was asked who he thought would triumph, and he joked: “We are of course.”

But Kate quipped: “He’ll be lucky.”

The royal couple – who tied the knot in London’s Westminster Abbey on April 29 – hugged and congratulated each other following the race.

Kate steered her team’s boat, while William’s boat led from the start and it was clear from the beginning his vessel looked more likely to win.

The duke and duchess arrived at the event via horse-drawn carriage and were greeted by thousands of supporters, and some had camped overnight to get a glimpse of the royal couple.

Earlier in the day, the prince – who flies Sea King helicopters in the RAF (Royal Air Force) – took part in a dangerous helicopter manoeuvre on the lake, landing a Canadian military helicopter on the water for the first time.

The couple – who will leave Canada for California on Friday – also took in Province House, where the idea for the country was born.

William said in a speech, which he partly spoke in French, it was “quite a moment” to be stood in front of the building where the “Canadian federation was forged”.