Prince William Meets Paddington Bear in China

The prince visits three cities in three days during his tour of China.

ByABC News
March 3, 2015, 12:53 PM

— -- Britain's Prince William met an internationally known bear today as he continued his official trip through China and Japan.

The 32-year-old prince was greeted by Paddington the bear himself while attending the China premiere of the “Paddington” movie in Shanghai.

The movie premiere came at the end of a busy day for William, who is on the three-day trip to China solo, without his son, George, or wife, Duchess Kate, who is expecting their second child in April.

William, the second-in-line to the British throne, earlier in the day played soccer with kids in Shanghai as the country seeks to expand its soccer training for kids.

PHOTO: Britain's Prince William, center, kicks a ball as he attends the Premier Skills football coaching event at Nanyang Secondary School in Shanghai, March 3, 2015.
Britain's Prince William, center, kicks a ball as he attends the Premier Skills football coaching event at Nanyang Secondary School in Shanghai, March 3, 2015.

On Monday William met with China’s president, Xi Jinping, and presented him with a letter from William’s grandmother, the Queen, inviting Jinping to London.

The prince will end his trip to China trip tomorrow with a visit to an elephant sanctuary in Southwestern China. The sanctuary helps elephants who have been injured or poached, a personal mission for William who has advocated against the illegal hunting and trading of elephant’s ivory tusks.

William arrived in China Sunday after a four-day stay in Japan to promote UK relations and business partnerships.