Kate Middleton admitted that her daughter Princess Charlotte can get a ‘very competitive’ while playing rugby with her brothers, a royal fan has claimed.
The Princess of Wales, 41, visited Maidenhead Rugby Club yesterday afternoon to take part in a practice as part of her ongoing Shaping Us campaign.
Nigel Gillingham – who is President of the Rugby Football Union – said Kate opened up about her children’s’ love of rugby during the engagement.
Speaking to Town & Country, he explained: ‘She was telling me that she regularly plays rugby with her children in the back garden—and lots of other sport.’
What’s more, Nigel said that Kate has observed that her daughter has inherited her competitive streak when it comes to sports.
The Princess of Wales pictured taking part in a practice at Maidenhead Rugby Club as part of her ongoing Shaping Us campaign yesterday
He added: ‘Apparently Charlotte is very much in her mould, very competitive as well apparently.’
Since marrying into the Royal Family in 2011, Kate Middleton has showed off her competitive side on multiple royal engagements – often competing against her husband Prince William in football, archery, sailing and sprinting.
The former rugby player says it was clear from the ‘smile on her face’ that Kate – who is also a keen hockey player – was enjoying being on the pitch yesterday.
Meanwhile, Stephen Bough – who is Chairman of Maidenhead Rugby Club – highlighted how Kate greeted people yesterday as though they were already friends and appeared ‘honestly interested’ in their club.
After practice came to close, Kate was approached by Sarah Renton – whose 17-year-old daughter Issy Phipps sadly died just weeks ago after struggling with depression.
The grieving mother-of-three gave Kate a pair of made by her cousin in Issy’s memory.
Kate was visibly moved by her interaction with Mrs Renton, who coaches the under-14 boys at the club, and put her arm around the mother before giving her a warm hug.
Mrs Renton later said the Princess had promised to wear the jewellery at a later date in Issy’s memory.
The Princess of Wales admitted that her daughter can be ‘very competitive’ with her brothers, according to President of the Rugby Football Union Nigel Gillingham
Prince George, nine, Prince Louis, five, and Princess Charlotte, eight, pictured during Trooping the Colour in June 2022
Issy Phipps, a keen rugby player herself, had played for Maidenhead RFC from the age of four, before moving on to Reading RFC as she got older.
Last month, Princess Charlotte looked like a pro as she got stuck into some archery at Big Help Out initiative in Slough following King Charles’ coronation.
Dressed in a £299 Ralph Lauren pink cable knit jumper, jean shorts and £20 trainers, Charlotte wore a yellow-and-purple Scouts tie around her neck.
Kate and William’s second child looked like a pro as she operated the bow and eyed up her target ahead of time.
Charlotte appeared to channel all her strength into the task at hand and frowned slightly as she let go of the bow.
Having clearly inherited her mother’s sporting talents, Charlotte managed to get an instant bullseye on her first try – blowing her brothers out of the park.
Princess Charlotte, eight, looked like a pro as she operated her plastic bow and arrow at the volunteering event in Slough
Prince Louis, five, was also determined to keep up with his siblings and pulled an animated face as he tried some archery
Prince William was on hand to offer Prince George some archery tips during the Big Help Out event
After shovelling sand and getting behind the wheel of a JCB, Prince Louis attempted to shoot the bow and arrow.
Determined not to accept any help, Prince Louis ran back and forth several times to pick up his arrows and hit the target on multiple occasions.
The adorable five-year-old grimaced as he studied the target in front of him – trying his best to keep up with his older siblings.
‘Come on, Louis, you can do it,’ Kate called.
When it was Prince George’s turn, he decided to go up against his parents.
But as he tried it out, Prince William provided his son with some tips as he watched over his shoulder.
Finally, the Princess of Wales tried her hand at the activity too. Although the Princess did have the slight advantage of having taken an archery lesson during a 2016 royal visit to Bhutan.
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