They will be joined by hundreds of thousands of spectators in Yorkshire for the 101st Grand Depart.
The centre of Leeds is expected to be crammed with cycling fans this morning as the 198 riders line up at the start.
Scores of towns and villages along the 190km opening stage are expected to be just as crowded as the peloton makes it way through the Yorkshire Dales to Harrogate.
Although the Tour starts in the middle of Leeds, the teams do not compete for the first eight miles and the race proper begins in the grounds of Harewood House where William, Kate and Harry will send the riders on their way as the Red Arrows fly overhead.
The British contingent among the huge crowds expected on the route will be hoping that Mark Cavendish is first across the finish line in Harrogate more than four-and-a-half hours later.
Cavendish's mother lives in the spa town and the ideal end to the day for many of those watching will be him sprinting to victory and securing the yellow jersey.
The royal visitors will be at the finish line to welcome the leaders and the peloton.
Weather forecasters say the riders should be blessed with a mostly sunny day with the prospect of an odd shower.
Up to three million people are expected to watch the Tour's two-day visit to Yorkshire.
Tomorrow the riders arrive in York for a stage taking in some of the most challenging climbs in Britain, ending in Sheffield.
And, on Monday, the Tour moves south to Cambridge and a stage ending on The Mall, in central London.
Post By http://www.express.co.uk/news/royal/486922/Kate-and-William-to-start-Tour-de-France-in-Yorkshire-today
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