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During their surprise royal trip to Belfast, the Prince and Princess of Wales faced each other in a cocktail competition while putting their mixology skills to the test.
Prince William and Kate, both 40, had a laugh during the duel to be the fastest to make the potent drink known as an Up the Lagan in a Bubble as they visited Trademarket on their second stop of their whirlwind tour.
The drink was a reference to the river that flows through Belfast and to local slang for ‘I wasn’t born yesterday’.
The Princess’s Up the Lagan in a Bubble contains Brew & Yaki, gin, fruit tea cordial, sherry, umeshu (a Japanese plum liqueur), lime and passion fruit ‘bobas’ and tapioca starch ‘pearls’
She is a natural! The Princess of Wales, 40, beamed as she measured out ingredients to make an Up the Lagan in a Bubble at a Belfast bar.
The Princess of Wales looked excited as she shook her cocktail in competition with her husband, Prince William, who was making his own version on the other side of the bar
Unfortunately for the princess, her husband was declared the winner – but she sure looked good as she measured out the ingredients and gave them a good shake to make her brew.
She looked immaculately polished in her £295 Winser London silk blouse and matching blue coat, presumably by Alexander McQueen, paired with elegant navy trousers, £85 recycled Missoma earrings and a £295 DeMellier London handbag. Her Royal Highness the coolest bartender in Northern Ireland.
But how exactly do you make an Up the Lagan in a Bubble, with an extra touch of regal class?
Make sure your ingredients are right
The concentration on Kate’s face was immeasurable as she poured out exact amounts of ingredients including gin, sherry and Japanese plum liqueur to make her cocktail.
Trust is the key! The Princess of Wales smiled knowingly at her adversary, Prince William, as she poured the measures for her cocktail
Don’t be afraid to ask for help! Kate seemed to ask a few questions about her cocktail as she poured her mates – the best way to make sure you don’t make mistakes
No cocktail will ever go as planned if you’re not precise with your ingredients – and this Belfast classic is no exception.
To make an Up the Lagan in a Bubble cocktail you will need:
- Brew & Yaki
- Gin
- Fruit tea savory
- Sherry
- Umeshu (a Japanese plum liqueur)
- Lime and passion fruit ‘bobas’
- Tapioca starch ‘pearls’ – commonly found in Taiwanese bubble tea
Shake with all your might
The Prince and Princess of Wales took their seats across the bar for a spirited cocktail race at an open air market in Belfast city center during a surprise visit to Northern Ireland
Regal Kate looked elegant in a £295 Winser London blouse as she shook up her cocktail and kept her cool as she competed with her husband
Somehow, despite shaking with all her might, there was barely a hair on Her Royal Highness’s head as she shook her Up the Lagan in a Bubble
An ode to Belfast, this cocktail is shaken, not stirred, and requires a little elbow grease to get it going.
Once you’ve measured your ingredients into a cocktail shaker filled with ice, it’s time to really do your best to get the flavor combinations just right.
Somehow Her Royal Highness didn’t have a hair on her head as she shook her cocktail behind the bar as she went to work mixing her cocktail.
The Princess of Wales kept her cool as she shook her Up the Lagan in a Bubble and didn’t let the pressure get on her as her husband William tried his own version of the cocktail just yards away.
Pour over ice and toast your creation
Kate looked absolutely delighted with her creation as she poured her cocktail over ice in a short glass as her proud mentor watched
Her Royal Highness sipped her drink secretly with a leaf and sipped through a straw, while no one was looking.
The Prince and Princess of Wales faced each other as they sampled their freshly made cocktails – although in the end Prince William was declared the winner
Have a short glass filled with ice ready for your freshly shaken cocktail.
Then place a strainer over the cocktail shaker to ensure only your delicious nectar is poured out, and garnish the glass with whatever you like.
Don’t forget to say cheers and enjoy your drink with your loved ones.
Putting the competition aside, the Princess of Wales showed her grace yesterday as she happily toasts to her husband, Prince William, despite just losing to his version of Up the Lagan in a Bubble.
She sipped her cocktail as she chatted with the bar owners with a grin on her face.
Don’t forget to smile!
The princess couldn’t wait to sample her cocktail behind the bar as she confronted her husband, William, to see who was better
The Princess of Wales looked totally at ease yesterday, despite being a novice at cocktail making.
She beamed as she measured out her ingredients, shook them up and chatted with the bar owners.
The knowledge that her husband was sitting on the other side of the bar fighting her only spurred on Her Royal Highness, who gladly accepted the challenge.
She even smiled when declared the losing cocktail maker, showing her grace and composure