Local celebrity Max, the springer spaniel therapy dog from Keswick, made such an impact on the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge at a garden party three weeks ago that the royal couple could not wait to meet him again when they visited the town on Tuesday.

Max’s owner Kerry Irving, who also owns dogs Paddy and Harry, was asked by Kensington Palace to meet with Prince William and Kate as everyone wanted to see them with a picture of the dogs.

Kerry said one of the nicest things about meeting the pair, with his wife Angela, was that they remembered them from the royal garden party three weeks ago. When they were at the palace William gave permission for Max to swim in the royal pond. When he met Max again he said to Kerry: “You should have let him go for a swim.” But Kerry said: “No, there was some very expensive finery there.”

On that occasion Kerry had said Harry’s full name was ‘Prince Harry of Winterfell’, named after Prince Harry’s work in mental health and the Invictus games.

After meeting Max again and being introduced to Paddy, the royals both pointed at Harry, gave a heartfelt laugh and said: “This must be Prince Harry.” Kerry talked to the royals about the work he is doing in schools showing the benefits that dogs can bring such as responsibility and health benefits.

Kerry said to them that it would be lovely if he could find more funding so that they could get in to more schools in Allerdale and Copeland and Kate suggested possible funding sources that he could try.

He said William had remembered them from their meeting three weeks ago and when he came out of the marquee had said ‘These are the dogs that raise money and have raised over £90,000’.

William also told Kerry that it was amazing when they were flying in to see people kayaking and people on the fells and said “it’s great work you’re doing getting people out.”

Kerry said that the visit to the area is great for Keswick and Cumbria and he had the utmost respect for the couple as they talked to up to 40 people in the marquee, giving everyone a warm welcome and they were genuinely engrossed in what people had to say.

He thinks that Max recognised Kate as he shuffled towards her for a cuddle.

Kerry described the couple as incredible people and said of the day: “It was a nice atmosphere, there was a good mix in the crowd, I was proud to be British.”

Footage of the royal couple meeting the dogs has gone worldwide. Kerry is aware of clips being shown in America and on Ch7 news in Australia.

Any schools in Allerdale and Copeland that would like Kerry to visit them with Max, Paddy and Harry to demonstrate the health benefits of having dogs should contact Kerry via his facebook page ‘Max out in the Lake District’.