THE Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will visit the North-East in one of their first public appearances since the infamous topless photos scandal.

Prince William and Kate Middleton took court action to prevent further publication of the intimate photos of the Duchess, taken last month by a paparazzi photographer while they holidayed at a French chateau.

The visit to the region will take place next Wednesday, October 10, and will take in Teesside and Tyneside.

Their first stop will be at Newcastle Civic Centre where they will meet a group of people who helped make the Olympic Games a success in the city.

They will also speak with members of the Institute of Ageing and Health, volunteers who help make the city a welcome place for people and businesses and will discuss the role of international students in higher education.

Also present will be members of Percy Hedley school for children with cerebral palsy and other motor disorders.

After a public walkabout they will head to Elswick Park in the city, which is protected under the Queen Elizabeth II Fields Challenge.

The Duke, who is patron, and the Duchess will meet community groups and schoolchildren.

Following that, they will head to Gateshead where they will visit Keyfund at Gateshead Youth Council - one of the charities chosen by the couple to benefit from their Royal Wedding Charitable Gift Fund.

The charity encourages young people to “reach their full potential in life by investing in their ideas”.

The trip will culiminate in a visit to CRI Stockton Recovery Service. The service for drug users over the age of 18 offers support for those at all stages, including harm reduction, criminal justice, a structured day programme, aftercare and stimulant specific support.

The Duke and Duchess will meet families who are involved in Action on Addiction’s M-PACT, or Moving Parents and Children Together, programme. The Duchess became a patron of the charity in January and the focus of the visit is to learn about Action on Addiction’s work with children living with parents who are drug users.