The Duchess of Cambridge was in her element as she joined England Rugby players for a training session at Twickenham this morning – even scoring a try. 

Sporty Kate, 40, looked the part in official England Rugby drill pants and zip-up jacket as she took to the pitch alongside stars including England Women’s captain Sarah Hunter. 

The Duchess, who is known for her competitive nature and athletic prowess, flashed a smile as she ran past the England players towards the try line and lifted her arms up in celebration after scoring.  

She couldn’t hold back her giggles as she was lifted up in a line-out and even tried a drop kick. Earlier, the Duchess shared a joke with members of the men’s squad including captain Courtney Lawes, who was today ruled out of the opening Six Nations match this Saturday due to injury. 

The outing marks Kate’s first as patron of England Rugby after taking over the role from Prince Harry.  

The Duchess was this morning announced as the new Patron of the Rugby Football League and the Rugby Football Union, roles previously held by her brother-in-law the Duke of Sussex. He was stripped of all patronages and honorary military titles following his and wife Meghan’s decision to quit as senior working royals. 

Kate, an avid sports fan, is the first royal to be given one of Harry’s former patronages by the Queen. 

The sporty royal will speak to members of the England men’s squad ahead of the start of the Six Nations Championship on Saturday.

In her element! The Duchess, dressed head-to-toe in England Rugby kit, beamed as she joined players for a training session

In her element! The Duchess, dressed head-to-toe in England Rugby kit, beamed as she joined players for a training session

Having a ball! Giggling Kate took part in a line-out with members of the England women's rugby team at Twickenham

Having a ball! Giggling Kate took part in a line-out with members of the England women's rugby team at Twickenham

The Duchess of Cambridge at Twickenham today

The Duchess of Cambridge at Twickenham today

Having a ball! Giggling Kate took part in a line-out with members of the England women’s rugby team at Twickenham 

Catch me if you can! The Duchess of Cambridge flashed a megawatt smile as she ran past England rugby players on the pitch

Catch me if you can! The Duchess of Cambridge flashed a megawatt smile as she ran past England rugby players on the pitch

Catch me if you can! The Duchess of Cambridge flashed a megawatt smile as she ran past England rugby players on the pitch

Keeping up with Kate! The Duchess of Cambridge looked full of energy as she joined players for the Twickenham training

Keeping up with Kate! The Duchess of Cambridge looked full of energy as she joined players for the Twickenham training

Kate Middleton at Twickenham today

Kate Middleton at Twickenham today

Keeping up with Kate! The Duchess of Cambridge looked full of energy as she joined players for the Twickenham training

Making a dash for it! The Duchess of Cambridge ran towards the try line at Twickenham Stadium today

Making a dash for it! The Duchess of Cambridge ran towards the try line at Twickenham Stadium today

Making a dash for it! The Duchess of Cambridge ran towards the try line at Twickenham Stadium today

Five points to Kate! The Duchess of Cambridge beamed as she scored a try at Twickenham Stadium this morning

Five points to Kate! The Duchess of Cambridge beamed as she scored a try at Twickenham Stadium this morning

Five points to Kate! The Duchess of Cambridge beamed as she scored a try at Twickenham Stadium this morning

Victory! Kate threw her arms up in celebration after scoring a try at Twickenham this morning

Victory! Kate threw her arms up in celebration after scoring a try at Twickenham this morning

The Duchess of Cambridge says 'my ball!'

The Duchess of Cambridge says 'my ball!'

Victory! Kate threw her arms up in celebration after scoring a try at Twickenham this morning

Ready for kick off! Giving her cousin-in-law Mike Tindall a run for his money, Kate showed she's a hands on patron as she kicked the ball today

Ready for kick off! Giving her cousin-in-law Mike Tindall a run for his money, Kate showed she's a hands on patron as she kicked the ball today

Ready for kick off! Giving her cousin-in-law Mike Tindall a run for his money, Kate showed she’s a hands on patron as she kicked the ball today

She's got the skills! Sporty Kate dashed across the pitch with a rugby ball during the training session at Twickenham

She's got the skills! Sporty Kate dashed across the pitch with a rugby ball during the training session at Twickenham

The Duchess of Cambridge playing rugby today

The Duchess of Cambridge playing rugby today

She’s got the skills! Sporty Kate dashed across the pitch with a rugby ball during the training session at Twickenham

Learning from the pros: The Duchess of Cambridge chatted to the England Rugby team ahead of the training session today

Learning from the pros: The Duchess of Cambridge chatted to the England Rugby team ahead of the training session today

Learning from the pros: The Duchess of Cambridge chatted to the England Rugby team ahead of the training session today

HRH Hysterics! The Duchess of Cambridge broke into laughter as she was lifted up by players

HRH Hysterics! The Duchess of Cambridge broke into laughter as she was lifted up by players

Giggling Kate Middleton at Twickenham today

Giggling Kate Middleton at Twickenham today

HRH Hysterics! The Duchess of Cambridge broke into laughter as she was lifted up by players

She will also speak to the women’s team ahead of their Six Nations tournament and World Cup in New Zealand later this year, and will hear about how the pandemic has impacted the sport over the past two years. 

She will then join the players for a skills session on the pitch, run by Head England Coach Eddie Jones.

In a tweet today Kate said she is ‘thrilled’ to be supporting the Rugby Football League and the Rugby Football Union, ‘two fantastic organisations who are committed to harnessing the power that sport can have in bringing communities together and helping individuals flourish’.

The post was accompanied by a video of Kate, dressed in exercise gear, showing off her skills with a rugby ball in the grounds of Kensington Palace, alongside clips of stars across the men’s and women’s game. 

Kate, who once enjoyed a warm relationship with her brother-in-law, Harry will step into his shoes and will be ‘front and centre’ at the upcoming games. It was previously reportedly thought Kate would champion the RFU’s ‘inner warrior’ campaign, which aims to help recruit more female players into clubs.

She is one of the sportiest members of the Royal Family and she is already royal patron of the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club. She is a frequent visitor to the Wimbledon Championships – but it is less well known that Kate is also a huge rugby fan.

Her sister, Pippa, wrote in Vanity Fair magazine in 2014: ‘Rugby was a big thing for our family, we’d plan our weekends around the big matches.’ 

On top of the world! Kate was lifted up in a line-out during a visit to Twickenham Stadium where she met with England stars

On top of the world! Kate was lifted up in a line-out during a visit to Twickenham Stadium where she met with England stars

On top of the world! Kate was lifted up in a line-out during a visit to Twickenham Stadium where she met with England stars

A real try-er! The England team didn't worry about lifting up the future Queen as they effortless pushed her up in the air

A real try-er! The England team didn't worry about lifting up the future Queen as they effortless pushed her up in the air

A real try-er! The England team didn’t worry about lifting up the future Queen as they effortless pushed her up in the air

In the action! The Duchess looked as excited as if she was playing a real game as she threw the ball around the pitch today

In the action! The Duchess looked as excited as if she was playing a real game as she threw the ball around the pitch today

Keeping stylish! Kate kept her dazzling wedding ring on for the celebrations

Keeping stylish! Kate kept her dazzling wedding ring on for the celebrations

In the action! The Duchess looked as excited as if she was playing a real game as she threw the ball around the pitch today

You can't catch me! Kate who has long been an advocate for sports and fitness looked fierce on the field as she ran with the ball

You can't catch me! Kate who has long been an advocate for sports and fitness looked fierce on the field as she ran with the ball

You can’t catch me! Kate who has long been an advocate for sports and fitness looked fierce on the field as she ran with the ball

A sporting star! Kate made sure she didn't remain on the side lines and got involved in the game to the amusement of her fellow players

A sporting star! Kate made sure she didn't remain on the side lines and got involved in the game to the amusement of her fellow players

Kate throws a ball from the side of the pitch

Kate throws a ball from the side of the pitch

A sporting star! Kate made sure she didn’t remain on the side lines and got involved in the game to the amusement of her fellow players

Pass it to the Princess! Kate looked delighted as she flew high in the air and met members of the men's and women's squads ahead of the Six Nations Championships and the Womens World Cup

Pass it to the Princess! Kate looked delighted as she flew high in the air and met members of the men's and women's squads ahead of the Six Nations Championships and the Womens World Cup

Pass it to the Princess! Kate looked delighted as she flew high in the air and met members of the men’s and women’s squads ahead of the Six Nations Championships and the Womens World Cup

On top of the world! Kate was the perfect sporty princess as she lifted up in a line-out as she plays rugby during a visit to Twickenham Stadium,

On top of the world! Kate was the perfect sporty princess as she lifted up in a line-out as she plays rugby during a visit to Twickenham Stadium,

A high pass! Showing she's not afraid to get stuck in Kate threw the ball around while being lifted by strong members of the England squad

A high pass! Showing she's not afraid to get stuck in Kate threw the ball around while being lifted by strong members of the England squad

A high pass! Showing she’s not afraid to get stuck in Kate threw the ball around while being lifted by strong members of the England squad 

In her element! Sporty Kate donned the England Rugby kit and held onto a a O2 branded ball as she beamed in delight on the pitch

In her element! Sporty Kate donned the England Rugby kit and held onto a a O2 branded ball as she beamed in delight on the pitch

In her element! Sporty Kate donned the England Rugby kit and held onto a a O2 branded ball as she beamed in delight on the pitch 

No tackling allowed! Kate looked ready to join the squad as she grabbed hold of the ball while England players attempted to tackle her

No tackling allowed! Kate looked ready to join the squad as she grabbed hold of the ball while England players attempted to tackle her

No tackling allowed! Kate looked ready to join the squad as she grabbed hold of the ball while England players attempted to tackle her 

Princess Anne, who also enjoys the sport, is the patron of the Scottish Rugby Union 

Harry himself took over the patronage from the Queen in 2016. Before that he was vice patron from 2010 and was seen as a committed ambassador for the England side. 

He even went on an alleged 25-hour drinking session with the team in Paris in 2007 after they lost the World Cup. 

The Duke of Sussex had initially retained the positions after Megxit and wanted to keep them as part of the departure deal. 

But he was later stripped of all his royal patronages, along with his honorary military appointments, after talks with the Queen and senior royals after a 12-month ‘cooling off period’ that followed their decision to quit as working royals and move to the US.

Until now, no member of the Royal Family has been handed one of the Sussexes’ patronages.

Some suspect the Queen did not want to risk antagonising her grandson, who has spent much of the past two years taking pot-shots at his family from across the Atlantic.

The  Duchess of Cambridge arrived at Twickenham this morning to meet players and take part in a training session

The  Duchess of Cambridge arrived at Twickenham this morning to meet players and take part in a training session

The  Duchess of Cambridge arrived at Twickenham this morning to meet players and take part in a training session

Dressed in England Rugby drill pants and an official jacket, Kate, 40, appeared in excellent spirits as she arrived at the west London stadium to meet England players, coaches and referees.

Dressed in England Rugby drill pants and an official jacket, Kate, 40, appeared in excellent spirits as she arrived at the west London stadium to meet England players, coaches and referees.

Kate arriving at Twickenham today

Kate arriving at Twickenham today

Dressed in England Rugby drill pants and an official jacket, Kate, 40, appeared in excellent spirits as she arrived at the west London stadium to meet England players, coaches and referees

The Duchess of Cambridge spent time speaking to women's team players, coaches and referees at the event today

The Duchess of Cambridge spent time speaking to women's team players, coaches and referees at the event today

The Duchess of Cambridge spent time speaking to women’s team players, coaches and referees at the event today

Kate flashes a smile as she chats to members of the men's squad

Kate flashes a smile as she chats to members of the men's squad

6ft 5in Courtney Lawes, who was today ruled out of the first Six Nations tie, towered over the Duchess of Cambridge

6ft 5in Courtney Lawes, who was today ruled out of the first Six Nations tie, towered over the Duchess of Cambridge

6ft 5in Courtney Lawes, who was today ruled out of the first Six Nations tie, towered over the Duchess of Cambridge (right). Left, Kate flashes a smile as she chats to members of the men’s squad

The Duchess of Cambridge shared a joke with members of the England Women's squad during her visit to Twickenham today

The Duchess of Cambridge shared a joke with members of the England Women's squad during her visit to Twickenham today

The Duchess of Cambridge shared a joke with members of the England Women’s squad during her visit to Twickenham today

Beaming Kate couldn't keep the smile from her face as she took to the pitch ahead of the training session today

Beaming Kate couldn't keep the smile from her face as she took to the pitch ahead of the training session today

Beaming Kate couldn’t keep the smile from her face as she took to the pitch ahead of the training session today

The Duchess of Cambridge wore her brunette locks swept back into a sporty high ponytail for the engagement

The Duchess of Cambridge wore her brunette locks swept back into a sporty high ponytail for the engagement

The Duchess of Cambridge wore her brunette locks swept back into a sporty high ponytail for the engagement

Captain Courtney Lawes accompanied Kate onto the pitch, where she spoke to members of the men's squad

Captain Courtney Lawes accompanied Kate onto the pitch, where she spoke to members of the men's squad

Captain Courtney Lawes accompanied Kate onto the pitch, where she spoke to members of the men’s squad

The Duchess of Cambridge dressed head-to-toe in England Rugby kit as she stepped out for the first time in her role as patron

The Duchess of Cambridge dressed head-to-toe in England Rugby kit as she stepped out for the first time in her role as patron

The Duchess of Cambridge dressed head-to-toe in England Rugby kit as she stepped out for the first time in her role as patron

Sporty Kate looked perfectly at ease as she spoke to England Rugby players, coaches and referees at Twickenham today

Sporty Kate looked perfectly at ease as she spoke to England Rugby players, coaches and referees at Twickenham today

Sporty Kate looked perfectly at ease as she spoke to England Rugby players, coaches and referees at Twickenham today

One of the girls! Kate stands in a huddle with players from the England women's rugby team, including captain Sarah Hunter

One of the girls! Kate stands in a huddle with players from the England women's rugby team, including captain Sarah Hunter

One of the girls! Kate stands in a huddle with players from the England women’s rugby team, including captain Sarah Hunter

The Duchess of Cambridge chatted to England Rugby captains Courtney Lawes and Sarah Hunter on her arrival at Twickenham

The Duchess of Cambridge chatted to England Rugby captains Courtney Lawes and Sarah Hunter on her arrival at Twickenham

The Duchess of Cambridge chatted to England Rugby captains Courtney Lawes and Sarah Hunter on her arrival at Twickenham

‘People just tread a bit carefully when it comes to them,’ one source told the Daily Mail.

But with the Six Nations Championship coming up this week, the need for a figurehead was pressing.

It is also expected that the Queen may now start to redistribute more of the couple’s dormant patronages.

For Harry these include, in addition to his ex-military affiliations, the presidency of the Queen’s Commonwealth Trust and the London Marathon Charitable Trust.

Meghan also had to hand back patronages with the Royal National Theatre and the Association of Commonwealth Universities, as well as her vice presidency of the Queen’s Commonwealth Trust. 

Striding out in confidence: The Duchess of Cambridge, a keen sportswoman, looked keen to get going on the pitch

Striding out in confidence: The Duchess of Cambridge, a keen sportswoman, looked keen to get going on the pitch

Striding out in confidence: The Duchess of Cambridge, a keen sportswoman, looked keen to get going on the pitch

Light-hearted: The royal shared a joke with England rugby players ahead of the training session this morning

Light-hearted: The royal shared a joke with England rugby players ahead of the training session this morning

Light-hearted: The royal shared a joke with England rugby players ahead of the training session this morning 

A gift for the kids? Rugby players had mini kits and balls ready, preparing to give them to the royal mother-of-three

A gift for the kids? Rugby players had mini kits and balls ready, preparing to give them to the royal mother-of-three

A gift for the kids? Rugby players had mini kits and balls ready, preparing to give them to the royal mother-of-three 

Ready to go! The Duchess of Cambridge looked excited as she arrived at Twickenham Stadium, in London, this morning

Ready to go! The Duchess of Cambridge looked excited as she arrived at Twickenham Stadium, in London, this morning

Kate Middleton at Twickenham today

Kate Middleton at Twickenham today

Ready to go! The Duchess of Cambridge looked excited as she arrived at Twickenham Stadium, in London, this morning 

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Read more at DailyMail.co.uk