The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge paid tribute to the victims of the Leicester helicopter crash today as they praised the 'warmth and compassion' in the city since the devastating accident.
Leicester City owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, 60, was killed last month when the aircraft plunged to the ground shortly after taking off from the pitch at the King Power stadium.
Pilots Eric Swaffer and partner Izabela Roza Lechowicz also died alongside Mr Srivaddhanaprabha's employees Nursara Suknamai and Kaveporn Punpare.
Prince William and Kate, who were friends of Mr Srivaddhanaprabha, spent time meeting his family as well as the club's manager Claude Puel and players including England World Cup stars Harry Maguire and Jamie Vardy.
William also made a speech praising Mr Srivaddhanaprabha and pilot Eric Swaffer, who he previously 'had the privilege to fly with'.
William counted Mr Srivaddhanaprabha as a personal friend and knew him through his role as President of the Football Association as well as a fellow polo player.
The Royals were taken to an area near the stadium containing the huge amount of floral tributes left to the victims near the stadium, where they stood in solemn silence to pay their respects. Kate then laid down a bouquet herself as the couple's own contribution.
William and Kate then spent time talking to volunteers who helped set up the shrine to the victims, including one who revealed the Prince told him one of his last conversations with the late Leicester chairman was about arranging a game against his beloved Aston Villa.
The Duchess of Cambridge and Prince William visited Leicester today to pay tribute to the victims of the helicopter crash that killed five people almost a month ago today. Kate laid a bouquet of flowers with a message of support for the city from the Royal couple
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are visiting the King Power Stadium today to pay tribute to the victims of a helicopter crash that killed five people including Leicester City chairman Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha. The Royals are pictured with the late owner's son Aiyawatt 'Top' Srivaddhanaprabha
William, pictured, and Kate were also given a tour of the King Power Stadium shortly after their visit to the shrine
The Duke and Duchess were also greeted with a receiving line of Leicester's players, including Jamie Vardy, pictured shaking Kate's hand, and manager Claude Puel
The shrine near the King Power Stadium in Leicester, pictured, has been transformed into a sea of flowers and tributes
Mrs Srivaddhanaprabha was visibly emotional at the tribute site today and wiped tears from her eyes shortly before the Royals arrived, pictured
Kate laid her own bouquet of flowers in tribute to the victims, left, as the couple bowed their heads to pay respect, right
An aerial view of the crashed helicopter's charred remains shows the damage caused to the vehicle in the accident
Leicetser City owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, pictured after the club's 2016 Premier League triumph, was praised for his 'contribution to football' by Prince William
Speaking to volunteers who had been invited to the club in recognition of their work to relocate flowers and other tributes to a dedicated site, she was asked how Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis were doing.
Kate told one well-wisher: 'They are great, thank you.'
Season ticket holder Fiona Sturgess said: 'Kate said that William was playing football with the children last night and one of them said, I think it was George, 'Are you playing football tomorrow Pops?'
Mimicking the Duchess's eyebrow raise, she added: 'She said 'no!'
William also gently poked fun at his wife, telling the fans: 'I hope she's talking non-football.'
Ms Sturgess added: 'He said one of his last conversations with Vichai he had wanted to arrange a Leicester vs Aston Villa game.'
Explaining why they had been invited to the event, club member Claire Plimmer, 47, said: 'We spent about five hours helping to move all the tributes here. We tied the scarves, lifted flowers, folded the shirts. I'm so proud to be part of the club and the Leicester City Family.
'We wanted to say give something back to someone who has given so much to us. It's a real honour to have met them.'
The Duke and Duchess were guided around the King Power Stadium in Leicester by the vice chairman Aiyawatt, pictured
Vice chairman Aiyawatt, left, waited to greet the royals with his mother Aimon, centre, and sister Voramas, right
Kate and William also spoke to the army of volunteer who helped set up the tribute site and they lightened the mood while chatting with the public, right, with the Duke appearing to draw a laugh from his wife
Leicester striker Jamie Vardy, centre, was one of the players on hand to greet the Srivaddhanaprabha family, pictured, before the royals arrived
Kev Butler, 51, said: 'We came to pay our respects to the best person that could happen to our city and our club.
'I've been a supporter since 1961. It's my club and for the last five years the dream has come true.'
He and former colleague Paul Groves, 67, showed the Duchess their commemorative black and white scarves, which read Mr Chairman.
He said: 'She was just sharing the compassion with everyone. She seemed to feel it, she looked quite emotional, she felt what we were feeling.'
Millie Carter, 17, who was with her mother Anne Marie, said of the Duchess: 'She's very caring. She genuinely wanted to talk to us. The fact that they took the time out to visit us, they didn't have to talk to us at all. It was a fantastic surprise.'
Inside the couple had a private lunch and met first responders who were called to the scene of the crash, which happened shortly after Leicester's home tie with West Ham.
Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha then took them out through the directors' box to look out over the pitch, where the helicopter carrying his late father took off on its fateful last flight
A sign on the big screen read 'A warm LCFC welcome to Their Royal Highnesses, The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.'
They also privately met relatives of the four other victims of the disaster, before hearing about some of the local charities supported by the club and its late owner.
They met representatives from the Leicester Hospital Charity, Loros Hospice, the Rainbows Hospice for Children and Young People and newly renamed Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha Foundation, which was formerly the LCFC Foxes Foundation.
After buying Leicester City in 2010 when the club was still in the Championship, the billionaire owner not only oversaw their fairytale rise to the top of the Premier League in 2016, but also helped to raise millions for local charities and the community.
At a stall for Rainbows, the Duke was shown a newspaper clipping of his father the Prince of Wales, opening the hospice in 1994.
'That is not a good photo,' he joked. 'Is that the best photo you could find?'
Remembering the club's owner, he added: 'We knew Vichai quite well anyway, it was all quite shocking.
'We knew how important he was in the community, how he was doing his bit and said 'we have got to say hello, say how everyone is getting on. He was the gel, the glue, of the community.
'There aren't many owners in the world who have done what Vichai has done here.
'If only more owners took his example of how to benefit the community, be involved. It's an amazing example of community, it really is.'
Referring to one of the fans he met outside, he said: 'We met someone outside who is a season ticket holder since 1958. I said, 'You must have had some dodgy seasons', and he said 'Yes, until the family came along it was a bit up and down'.'
Speaking to representatives from the Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha Foundation, Kate said: 'It's amazing that the club is such a part of the community.'
Thanking the Duke and Duchess for visiting the Club, chief executive Susan Whelan told them: 'This will bring great comfort to those who are grieving.'
Then the Duke addressed players, supporters, staff and management at the club. He paid tribute to the late owner and the four others killed, including pilot Eric Swaffer, adding that he was 'a man I had the privilege to fly with in the past'.
William also praised the Club's supporters and the community for rallying around in the aftermath of the disaster.
Before leaving, the royal couple were presented with boxed LCFC kits for each of their children and a statue of a silver fox, to represent the club's mascot.
The Duchess was presented with a posy of flowers by five-year-old Isla Jesson, who is a patient at Leicester Royal Infirmary.
Isla, who has Type 1 Diabetes, wore a pink furry coat. Her proud mother Joanne, 39, said: 'Kate said that her daughter Charlotte would love her coat.
'She wears an insulin pump so I was hoping she wasn't going to beep during the speeches. But I'm so proud of her.'
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge stood in solemn silence as they paid their respects in front of the huge amount of floral tributes left to the Leicester helicopter crash victims
Goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel, centre, was also there to meet the Royals, after he witnessed the crash and had to be 'held back' from running towards the flames to help
Aiyawatt, left, and his mother both stood in a prayer position as they showed respect for the late chairman
William, President of the FA, and Kate were also pictured chatting to some of the Leicester squad today
The Royals, left, were led along a blue carpet to the tribute area by Mr Srivaddhanaprabha, 33, right, followed by his mother and sister
Club volunteers and supporters had decked out fencing around the tribute site with flags and scarfs as they talked to the Royal couple, with Kate breaking out into laughter
Manager Claude Puel, centre, and defender Harry Maguire, right, were also among the club staff at the memorial
In his speech at the stadium, William said: 'We knew Vichai as a man who cared deeply about his family and also his community. He of course was a man of wealth, but that wealth did not leave him disconnected from those around him. He believed in giving back.
'Catherine and I also wanted to come to Leicester because of what the people of this city, and fans of this club, have shown us all over the last few weeks.
'In 2016, this football club did something that should have been impossible.
'Against odds that are now the stuff of legend, you took on the Goliaths and superstars of the world's most famous football league.
'In powering past them all to win the title, you wrote the best underdog story in the history of modern sport.
'And when the man that led this club to victory died so tragically, the people of this city revealed with their outpouring of admiration, that they too shared much of the character that was so central to who Vichai was.'
Jamie Vardy revealed he enjoyed a close relationship with the owner and his family after the fatal crash and was pictured today embracing Mr Srivaddhanaprabha's widow
Kate was keen to speak to the people of the city, pictured, who helped create the huge tribute to the crash victims
The King Power stadium was the scene of the crash after the helicopter faltered shortly after taking off from the pitch. Pictured are Kate and William with the vice chairman
William and Kate began their day by visiting the tribute site near the stadium to pay their respects to those killed in the accident.
Mr Srivaddhanaprabha's son Aiyawatt, vice chairman of the club, greeted the royals with his mother Aimon and sister Aroonroong.
William clasped Top's hands warmly and spoke to him at length, as did Kate, elegant in a Catherine Walker coat.
They then met a receiving line of Leicester players including England striker Jamie Vardy and goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel, who witnessed the crash and had to be 'held back' from running towards the flames to try to help.
The couple then walked along a blue carpet, with Kate laying a bouquet of flowers, adding the carpet of floral tributes.
Afterwards they met with a group of players and members of the Club's management team.
These included Claude Puel, Wes Morgan, Kasper Schmeichel, Andy King, Harry Maguire, Ben Chilwell and Jamie Vardy.
The couple also spent several minutes meeting volunteers and club supporters who helped to relocate the thousands of tributes which were left outside the front of the stadium to the site.
Kate looked visibly moved by her conversations with some of the Leicester volunteers who helped organise the shrine, pictured
William stopped to help people take pictures of him on their phones, pictured and some of the crowd said the Duke was asked by his children if he would be playing football today
Kate, left and right, and William said they wanted to come to Leicester because the city had shown such character since the tragic crash which killed five people
The Duke and Duchess then visited the University of Leicester where they saw some of the community, charity, health and educational projects supported by the late Leicester chairman. Kate (left) is pictured kissing Sai Gokani (centre), six, as his twin brother Taran (right) watches on
The boys, who were born at 27 weeks and spent 19 months in hospital, were excited to meet the Duchess and Prince William joked with them 'you two have so much energy'
Kate was beaming, pictured, as she met Sai, who looked unsure as she bent down to give him a hug and peck on the cheek
The Duchess laid an arrangement of white flowers wrapped in blue, reflecting the club's colours.
A card on the wreath said: 'To Vichai and all those who died in this terrible tragedy, you will be sorely missed.
'Our sincere condolences to the city of Leicester.'
It was signed 'William' and 'Catherine'.
William and Kate, wearing a coat by Catherine Walker, took a moment to view the sea of floral tributes, scarves and flags left by mourners.
William looked solemn as he chatted to each player and shared a warm moment with Aiyawatt, putting a hand on his shoulder and telling the players: 'You're in very good hands.'
After leaving the stadium the couple went to Leicester University, where six-year-old twins Sai and Taran Gotani were among the guests lined up to meet them.
As the duchess met the twins, who spent months in hospital after they were born prematurely, she asked them: 'What do you boys like doing? Do you like playing football?'
The answer gave her a taste of what was to come. 'I like headbutting,' said Sai, who with his brother promptly proceeded to give the duchess a demonstration.
'They are very excited to see you!' said their mother Kal, 43.
A few minutes later the duchess joined the duke at a demonstration of a schools science project, hosted by Dr Suzie Imber, who last year won the BBC2 series Astronauts: Do You Have What It Takes?
The experiment showed what happens to marshmallows in a vacuum, which immediately brought the boys over.
As they jostled in front of the vacuum chamber, which contained a rapidly expanding marshmallow, William said: 'They are the biggest marshmallows in the world!'
Meanwhile their mother was struggling to hide her embarrassment. 'They are shouting 'Kate! Kate!' she said.
'But she [the duchess] said: "It's absolutely fine. Don't do anything. Let them be. I'm used to it." Oh my God! She is amazing with them.
'Sai was shouting, "Kate, how is Charlotte?' And Taran has got a thing with numbers. He was saying, "How old are you, Kate? When is your birthday?" I'm sweating, literally!'
Then, as the duke and duchess prepared to leave the room in the university library, the boys were there again, hogging the limelight. 'You are very active,' the duke told them. 'How many marshmallows have you eaten? You two have so much energy.'
At that point the boys decided to start rolling round on the floor in front of the couple, wrestling together. Turning to his wife, William said: 'Catherine, you and I might try that. It's a new way to do an engagement. It's a lot of fun!'
Even then the twins were not finished with them. Outside, it was time for the traditional posy on departure: presented, of course, by Sai and Taran.
'Have you had a marshmallow yet?' the duke asked them. 'I thought you were going to have marshmallows.'
Crouching down, the duchess said to them: 'Shall I shake your hands one more time?'
That was not good enough for Sai, who leaned forward to give the duchess a kiss.
No marshmallows for the boys, however. Their father Geeten, 42, said: 'We try not to give them too much sugar!'
William and Kate, pictured in front of the tributes near the King Power Stadium, said they wanted to acknowledge the 'warmth and compassion' of the people of Leicester with their visit
The Duke and Duchess were also shadowed by police officials in Leicester today, pictured, with the investigation continuing into how the crash occurred
Leicester's manager Claude Puel, second right, and the club's players clasped hands with the Srivaddhanaprabha family when they arrived at the tribute site
William knew Mr Srivaddhanaprabha through his role as the FA President and as a keen fellow polo player, and he was seen talking warmly with his son Aiyawatt, aka 'Top', pictured
The Duchess, pictured at the tribute site in Leicester alongside William and Aiyawatt, laid an arrangement of white flowers wrapped in blue, reflecting the club's colours
William, pictured at the shrine with Kate, previously praised the late chairman for his 'big contribution to football' after he guided Leicester City to win the Premier League in 2016
He said at the time: 'He made such a big contribution to football, not least through Leicester City's magical 2016 season that captured the imagination of the world.'
During the visit to the University of Leicester the couple heard about some of the educational and health programmes Leicester City has helped to support.
This includes a £1million donation made by Mr Srivaddhanaprabha to the university in May 2018, which will be used to help fund medical research and training through the creation of a Professorship in Child Health.
Their Royal Highnesses will then have the opportunity to speak with students, before meeting some of the University's Centenary scholars.
The Centenary scholar programme has been created as the University prepares to celebrate 100 years since a fund was established by Dr Astley Clarke for its foundation.
It was created as a living memorial to those who fought and made sacrifices in the First World War.
Kate, left, spent a few minutes talking to Leicester's manager Claude Puel, right, as William spoke to club captain Wes Morgan
The Srivaddhanaprabha family looked mournful in Leicester today with just a month passing since the tragedy
Aiyawatt shook hands with the Prince and bowed to him, pictured, when the couple arrived in Leicester shortly before 1pm today
Leicester City and England defender Harry Maguire welcomed Aimon with a kiss on the cheek this afternoon. Many of the players enjoy a close relationship with the Srivaddhanaprabha family
Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha, left, held his mother's hand as they walked towards the tribute site during what was a very emotional occasion today
The late chairman's son, left, and daughter Aroonroong, right, were both moved to tears at the tribute site in Leicester
The couple's visit to the shrine, pictured, near the stadium will be followed with a visit to the University of Leicester as well as meetings with charities supported by Mr Srivaddhanaprabha and his family
Investigators are still trying to determine why the aircraft plunged 430ft to the ground just moments after taking off from the pitch on October 27.
Footage of the aircraft taking off from the King Power Stadium pitch appeared to show parts of the rear rotor flying off as it hovered above the stands.
But the Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) says it still has not identified the cause of the crash, although it appears the helicopter turned sharply right when the pilot was using the left pedal and 'did not respond to his command'.
The AAIB's preliminary report also says that its 'investigation of the tail rotor system is being carried out as a priority'.
Instead of crashing into the stands and hospitality areas it came down on empty land 200 yards from the stadium before erupting in a fireball.
It avoided busy roads and the last of the 31,000 fans still in the area along with dozens of police officers.
Experts suspect the tail rotor failed, sending the £6million AugustaWestland AW169 into a 'dead man's curve' that even the best pilot would not have been able to handle.
Leicester City's staff and players were visibly emotional during their first game after the crash against Cardiff, pictured
Mr Srivaddhanaprabha's helicopter was flown by Eric Swaffer, 53 (pictured left with the Dalai Lama) who has posted pictures of the craft on social media. His partner, also on board the ill-fated aircraft was flight instructor and partner Izabela Lechowicz, 46 (pictured right)
Kaveporn Punpare was an assistant to Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha and sadly perished in the doomed flight, alongside his colleagues and the chairman
Nusara Suknamai, a former Miss Thailand competitor, was one of the members of staff who tragically perished on board
The doomed Leicester City helicopter pilot may have been become stuck in a 'dead man's curve' after the aircraft's tail rotor failed, experts have suggested
Popular Leicester City owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha started with a duty free shop in 1989 and will always be the owner that guided club to title
By Nathan Salt for MailOnline
A helicopter belonging to Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha was engulfed in flames after taking off from the King Power Stadium following his side's 1-1 draw with West Ham.
Srivaddhanaprabha usually departs the King Power inside his private helicopter after home games alongside other members of the club's hierarchy.
Here, Sportsmail profiles Srivaddhanaprabha's success in and out of football, including how he helped Leicester win the Premier League title in 2016.
He is fifth on the Thailand richlist of billionaires and is said to be worth close to £4billion
Srivaddhanaprabha was born in Bangkok on April 4, 1958 to a Thai Chinese family.
The Thai billionaire Srivaddhanaprabha kick-started his business journey by opening a duty free shop back in Bangkok in 1989 at the age of 31.
His retail company, King Power, is now a staple of the country's airports and the brand also have the naming rights to Leicester City's stadium.
Having been the club's primary shirt sponsor for the three previous seasons, he wanted to step up his involvement and opted to go all in and become owner.
Buying the club for a reported £39million in 2010 proved a shrewd investment as he oversaw a meteoric rise which saw the Foxes historically win the Premier League title in 2015-16.
When he took over, the club had just earned promotion from League One, the third tier in the English football pyramid, and with Nigel Pearson trusted to remain in charge, the Foxes were quickly back in the Premier League.
According to Forbes, the Midlands club is now valued at £371m after becoming a staple of the top half in the league under Srivaddhanaprabha's reign.
Ranked as fifth on Forbes' Thailand rich list, Srivaddhanaprabha has built his empire up to a staggering $4.9billion (£3.8bn).
Sportsmail profiles the career of Leicester City's Thai owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha
After enjoying rich success with Leicester - which saw them defy all the odds in reaching the knockout stages of the Champions League, Srivaddhanaprabha bought Belgian club OH Leuven in May 2017.
The club reside in the Brlgian second division but could act as a real beneficiary for young players at Leicester in the future.
Srivaddhanaprabha is a keen football supporter and has continued to put money into the Foxes with his son Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha involved as club vice-chairman.
He is married to Aimon Srivaddhanaprabha, and has four children Voramas, Apichet, Arunroong, and Aiyawatt.
He is popular among players and is regularly in attendance for matches at the King Power
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News Pictures Prince William and Kate mourn Leicester helicopter crash victims
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