How active Kate Middleton occupies her children at Easter

As children across the country enjoy two weeks off for Easter, one family that probably won’t pass the time in front of the screen is the Waleses.

Prince George, nine, Princess Charlotte, seven and Prince Louis, four, were born to active parents, particularly their mother, the Princess of Wales.

Kate has often spoken about the importance of activity, exercise and getting outdoors, which she believes is most important for young children. Indeed, her work in early years development has led her to explore the benefits of the great outdoors for youngsters.

The Princess has also revealed how she and her family have fun together by playing sports with her ‘competitive’ children, and that she manages to squeeze in exercise time with them in the morning before the school run.

Even when the family is indoors, Kate and William ensure they are carrying out fun yet educational activities, such as baking.

As part of the Princess’s work in early years development, she places emphasis on the importance of ensuring children spend time outside.

In 2019, when unveiled her ‘Back to Nature’ garden which featured in the Chelsea Flower Show, the mother-of-three said: ‘In recent years I have focussed much of my work on the early years, and how instrumental they are for outcomes later in life. 

‘I believe that spending time outdoors when we are young can play a role in laying the foundations for children to become happy, healthy adults.’ 

And while Kate certainly practices what she preaches, her children appear to have naturally inherited her love of the outdoors anyway.

To celebrate their 10th wedding anniversary in 2021 the Prince and Princess of Wales released a video of the family enjoying activities outdoors including toasting marshmallows on the fire

The video showed clips of Prince Louis running around on the Sandringham Estate. Kate has previously revealed how Louis comes home from school in the afternoon and asks to play in the garden so he can ‘get [his] energy out’

Another clip in the video shows the Wales children climbing up sand dunes on a Norfolk beach in the area where the family spent the Covid lockdowns

Earlier this month, she revealed how her youngest son, Louis, asks almost every day to play in the garden after school, after he started in September.

Speaking on a visit to a therapy garden at a rehabilitation centre in Wales, Kate revealed Louis likes spending time outdoors. She said: ‘Louis comes home and says “I need to get my energy out”.’ 

As well as enjoying time in the garden at home, the Wales children also reportedly enjoy quality outdoor time during the school day.

Speaking about their school on the Lorraine show last September, when the children started the academic year, Sunday Times Royal Editor Roya Nikkhah said the Windsor school offered a different educational experience when compared to London schools.

She said: ‘The Cambridges want their children to have a different type of schooling.

‘It was a lovely first day at school for them…it’s the first time all three of them have been at the school together.

‘This is quite different, it’s all part of the big move to Windsor. It’s an amazing school.’

And when they are outdoors, Kate has previously hinted at the activities they get up to, revealing which sports the children love.

While visiting the England wheelchair rugby team following their World Cup win in January, she told players: ‘We’re always slightly competitive with each other. They all love sport and Louis is mad about rugby. They are at an age where they just love running around.’

She also revealed she loves to join in with her children when they play sport. The mother-of-three said: ‘I do it all: whenever I can squeeze in exercise I do, even jumping on the trampoline with the children before school.’

In 2021, to mark their 10th wedding anniversary, the Prince and Princess of Wales released a video on their Instagram page which gave royal fans a glimpse into their active, outdoorsy family life.

Kate and William are also known for taking their children on fun days out, such as a trip to the funfair at the Burnham Market Horse Trials in 2019 with their cousin Mia Tindall

Ahead of Queen Elizabeth’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations last summer the Princess of Wales got busy in the kitchen with her children and made a batch of cupcakes for a street party

Among the activities, which were filmed at Anmer Hall on the Sandringham Estate in Norfolk, were marshmallow toasting on a campfire outside the house, playing on a see-saw and chasing each other around the grounds.

The family were also pictured hiking as the children larked about on the Norfolk coast, while wrapped up to protect against windy conditions.

Prince William has previously spoken of the family’s fondness for Norfolk and how it has come to feel ‘like home’ for them, thanks to his grandfather Prince Philip’s development of the area.

He said: ‘For me, coming here and now living here, everything that he’s done has led up to Catherine and I feeling that this is a part of the country we want to be in. We love this area, it feels like home, and that’s because of what he’s created.’

The family are so fond of Sandringham that they chose to spend lockdown at Anmer Hall, where the children could no doubt roam around as much as they pleased on the land.

However, the Wales family didn’t spend all of lockdown outside, and managed to take a day trip to a pottery painting studio in King’s Lynn in August 2020, when businesses began to open up again, Elle reported.

Another fun day trip the couple took was a visit to the funfair at the Burnham Market Horse Trials in 2019.

The Princess of Wales was pictured with Prince George and Princess Charlotte as the family teamed up with their cousins, Mia and Lena Tindall.

The children enjoyed a bumper car ride together and were pictured cackling away as they crashed into each other.

Prince George even picked up a souvenir, as he was pictured queueing for the ride while carrying an intricately-decorated plastic sword.

However, although the Prince and Princess of Wales like to encourage their children to spend as much time outside as possible, they also understand the importance of indoor family activities. 

Ahead of the late Queen Elizabeth’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations last year, the Princess of Wales got busy in the kitchen with her three children, in a video posted on her Instagram account which displayed a slideshow of photos.

As the family made a batch of cupcakes to be distributed at a street party in Cardiff, photos showed the children helping their mother ice the sweet treats with a piping bag. 

Prince Louis looked lost in concentration as he was pictured sifting flour for the cakes, while Charlotte and George supervised their little brother as he used the stand mixer.

When the cakes were finished, the children looked proud as punch with their creation and Charlotte flashed her mother a winning smile