Mandatory Credit: Photo by Tim Rooke/REX/Shutterstock (9433846ad) Catherine Duchess of Cambridge Catherine Duchess of Cambridge and Prince William visit to Sunderland, UK - 21 Feb 2018 The Duke and Duchess travel to see the Northern Spire, an ambitious and striking new bridge over the River Wear, due to open in spring 2018. The 1,550- tonne pylon structure is twice as high as Nelson?s Column and taller than Big Ben's clock tower.