Cambridge has given its duke and duchess a rapturous welcome as the royal couple tours the city for the first time.

Hundreds of well-wishers lined the streets around the Guildhall to greet William and Kate, who are spending the day celebrating Cambridge's university, and some of its charities, schools and hard-working volunteers.

The royal couple arrived by train and were slowly driven through the city so the crowds could catch a glimpse of them.

Cambridge has been awaiting the royal visit since the Queen bestowed the dukedom on her grandson just a few hours before he married Catherine Middleton on April 29 last year.

The last Duchess of Cambridge was the German-born Princess Augusta Wilhelmina Louisa of Hesse-Cassel, who was married to Prince Adolphus Frederick, the 1st Duke of Cambridge, and a son of George III.

The title was last held by Prince George, a military figure who wed a commoner for love - like William - but also kept a mistress for more than 30 years.

Kate was sporting her new hairstyle - layered long dark locks with a parted fringe - first seen in London on Tuesday night when she opened a new exhibition at the Natural History Museum.

She was dressed in a MaxMara dress and coat and looked relaxed as she arrived at the Guildhall with her husband who wore a dark suit.

Bus driver Simon Newman, 43, from Sutton, near Ely, had travelled into Cambridge with his wife Claire, 48, an easyJet cabin crew member, to see the couple.

They were waiting outside the university's Senate House and said they were pleased that the royal couple had taken the titles of Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. Mr Newman said: "I have the week off and so has my wife so we thought it would be great to come and see them. They are a really attractive couple."