Duchess of Cambridge joins the Queen, Harry and Wills at reception for Olympic and Paralympic heroes

THE Duchess of Cambridge joined the Queen, Prince William and Prince Harry in honouring our Olympic and Paralympic heroes at a Buckingham Palace reception today.

The sportsmen and women, who returned from the Rio Games this summer with a clutch of medals, were welcomed to the Queen’s official London home to mark their success.

There were a few notable absences among Olympians however with Mo Farah, Bradley Wiggins, Jessica Ennis-Hill as well Laura Trott and Jason Kenny all turning down the invitation, reports.

Laura and Jason are believed to be on their honeymoon while Wiggins is believed to be preparing for a race in two days’ times.

Ennis-Hill – who announced her retirement last week – attended last night’s victory parade in Manchester.

Among the members of the Royal Family who greeted the guests were the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, Prince Harry, the Princess Royal and the Duke of York.

Kate – who wore a patriotic poppy dress – was spoke with gold medal-winning boxer Nicola Adams.

She said: “It’s absolutely amazing – I’m so excited. It’s going to be so much fun meeting all the royals, especially the Queen.”

Adams was awarded an MBE by the monarch after her success at London 2012 and said the Queen wished her luck back then for Rio.

She said she thought the Queen would be “excited” to see her at Buckingham Palace with a gold medal.

A homecoming parade was staged earlier in the capital for the athletes, who were also greeted by thousands in Manchester yesterday when a similar event was staged.

The ParalympicsGB squad returned from Brazil with 147 medals overall, made up of 64 golds, 39 silvers and 44 bronze – their most successful Games since 1988.

Team GB athletes also triumphed in Brazil, exceeding their haul from London 2012 by bringing back 67 medals – 27 gold, 23 silver and 17 bronze – in what was their greatest overseas Olympic Games.

Paralympian swimmer Ellie Simmonds said it was “really exciting” to be at the Palace to celebrate the athletes’ success.

Simmonds, who claimed her fifth gold medal after winning the 200m medley in Rio, said: “It’s great to come to the Palace which is incredible and to be honoured by the Olympics and Paralympics – it’s amazing.”

Simmonds, who has been to the Palace on several occasions in the past, said she was hoping to meet Prince Harry this time.

“I’ve met them all apart from Prince Harry,” she said.

William, Kate and Harry said the team was an “inspiration to us all, young and old” after their summer success.

The Duke and Duchess said in a statement released in August: “London 2012 was a hard act to follow, but you have made the entire country proud of everything you have accomplished,.

“We all know that this success does not come easy and is the culmination of years of hard work, passionate commitment, sheer grit and determination.”

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