Good sport! Queen's game of table tennis makes girl's day

...as King insists skiing days are over

- Emily Ferguson

THE Queen rolled back the years yesterday with an impromptu game of table tennis - which she said she used to play "in my youth".

Camilla picked up the bat during a royal visit to a community centre in Middlesbrough.

She teamed up with Alesha Hussain, 15, a young carer who is supported by local organisation The Junction, and they participated in a close-fought rally against Kaleb Autsun, 14.

Alesha said afterwards: "She was actually good, I was impressed. It's my 15th birthday today so what an amazing way to celebrate it. I don't think there's many people who have done this."

But there was a more rueful reference to past sporting glories for the King, who said "I think my skiing days are behind me" when he chatted to a Swiss engineer during a visit to a wind turbine factory nearby.