Watch: Princess of Wales celebrates England Wheelchair Rugby team
The Princess of Wales has revealed a rare and unusual insight into how she stays so fit and healthy, and how she manages to ‘squeeze in’ workouts in between her busy schedule.
Kate, 41, hosted a reception for the England wheelchair Rugby League team at Hampton Court Palace on Thursday, to celebrate their World Cup win last November.
The mother of three, who is patron of the Rugby Football League, revealed to the players that she watched the tight final on television with her husband Prince William and their three children as England narrowly defeated France 28-24.
“You’ve set the bar high, haven’t you?” she joked. “Which is good.”
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When asked whether her children had expressed any interest in the sport, she revealed that it is her youngest, four-year-old Prince Louis, who is pretty keen on rugby.
“We’re always slightly competitive with each other,” Kate explained. “They all love sport and Louis is mad about rugby.”
“They are at an age where they just love running around,” she added.
The princess then explained that her own fitness routine often revolves around her children, too.
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“I do it all; it’s running around after the children…whenever I can squeeze in exercise I do,” she revealed to the sportsmen, before adding the surprising exercise she uses to keep fit.
“Even jumping on the trampoline with the children before school,” she added.
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Kate was all smiles and laughed as the players then invited her and her family to join them at a training session.
“I’d love to come and play,” she replied. “There’s no excuse now. We’re going to have to have a family training session.”
The Princess of Wales took over the patronage of English rugby from Prince Harry in February 2022, becoming the figurehead for both the Rugby Football Union and Rugby Football League after he stepped back as a senior member of the Royal Family.
The Duchess of Cambridge and Cornwall marked the appointment with a visit to Twickenham where she got thoroughly stuck in with some of the rugby drills and spoke with then England Rugby Union coach Eddie Jones.
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Mike Tindall, husband to William’s cousin Zara and former England Rugby Union player, once revealed that he would have the Princess of Wales on his rugby team, and in particular in the position of winger as she ‘loves running’. Appearing on House of Rugby, Tindall explained: “I’ve got the Duchess of Cambridge on one wing because she loves running, she can run all day. Engine!”
Prince William is patron of the Welsh Rugby Union, whilst Princess Anne is patron of the Scottish Rugby Union. Both countries will play against England in the upcoming Six Nations tournament.