Prince George has revealed he learning is to play rugby at school but is yet to take on his mother cheekily telling Kate Middleton ‘I haven’t tackled you yet’ after joining his parents at the England vs Wales Six Nations game at Twickenham Stadium yesterday.
The eight-year-old royal was spotted in the stands between Prince William, 39, and the Duchess of Cambridge, 40, who were in direct competition for what was the first match Kate attended since becoming patron of the Rugby Football Union.
William, who has been patron of the Welsh Rugby Union since 2016, and Kate are known for their rivalry during sporting engagements and the pair sported their own team scarves on Saturday.
‘It’s a big game,’ William said, keeping a protective arm on George’s shoulders as he encouraged the young prince to ‘shake hands’.
William said: ‘We’re excited. It’s just so good to be back, it’s been quite weird watching games, and football, without the fans.’
Asked whether George would be supporting his mother or father’s team, the young prince shrugged his shoulders and smiled at William, who laughed: ‘It’s become quite the thing in the house,’ pointing at his wife, adding: ‘She is quite into it, I’m trying to stay out of it.’
Kate then asked George to tell the group about how he has started playing rugby at his school: ‘He has all the kit,’ she said.
George spoke about how he has just started learning how to tackle, before turning to his mother: ‘But I haven’t tackled you yet!’
Kate replied, laughing: ‘Yes you have!’
Prince George has revealed he learning is to play rugby at school but is yet to take on his mother cheekily telling Kate Middleton ‘I haven’t tackled you yet’ after joining his parents at the England vs Wales Six Nations game at Twickenham Stadium yesterday
The eight-year-old royal was spotted in the stands between Prince William, 39, and the Duchess of Cambridge, 40, who were in direct competition for what was the first match Kate attended since becoming patron of the Rugby Football Union.
Prior to kick-off, the royals met Jeff Blackett, president of the RFU, and Gerald Davies, president of the WRU.
The Cambridges also met representatives of the RFU’s community and grass roots game, volunteers and RFU council members including Joe Bedford and Commander Kirsty Marlor, who represents the Navy on the RFU Council.
George sat in between his mother and father at the game, and Kate was seen leaning down to talk to her smiley son, while both parents pointed things out to him.
William wore a navy suit and clutched a red Wales scarf while Kate sported a black and white checked coat over trousers, and held an England scarf with her bag.
George appeared to be maintaining a diplomatic stance, with his red and blue padded Ralph Lauren jacket free from any England or Wales symbols.
Kate however got the final victory, with England beating Wales 23-19.
Speaking after their meeting, Commander Marlor said of George: ‘I get the impression he’s yet to choose a team. I asked him which position he plays but I don’t think he’s got one yet.
‘It is such an honour to have them all here today supporting the teams and a fantastic surprise to see George. The duchess was talking about how interested she is in the community game, which is so great to hear.
The eight-year-old (pictured centre) appeared in great spirits as he stood in the stands alongside his parents, dressed in a red and navy jacket, while his mother Kate, 40, oozed elegance in a houndstooth £449 Knightsbridge Coat from Holland Cooper, and his father Prince William, 39, appeared dapper in a red tie and black jumper combo
Yesterday’s match at Twickenham Stadium will be the first Kate has attended since becoming patron of Rugby Football Union (RFU) after she took over the role from her brother-in-law Prince Harry, who used to enjoy cheering on England before he was forced to give up the patronage as part of the Megxit agreement
Prince William (pictured left), who has been patron of the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) since 2016, and Kate are known for their rivalry during sporting engagements, with the duchess, who grew up watching rugby with her family, having gamely taken on her husband in everything from dragon boating to wind buggy racing
Their appearance comes after the royal couple (pictured with their eldest) tweeted their support for Ukraine in a rare political comment – insisting they ‘stand’ with the people of the war-torn nation, who ‘bravely fight’ for their future
Kate looked great in her coat which had a black and white design and was worn over a classic black roll neck jumper
The duchess, known for her love of sport, said earlier this month she was ‘very proud’ to become the RFU’s figurehead, a role that used to belong to the Duke of Sussex.
Kate grew up watching England rugby games with the Middletons, and the family would plan their weekends around international matches.
At an England training session earlier this month, she laughed when player Ellis Genge asked her about the new rivalry with William and admitted it would ‘make things interesting’.
Kate said: ‘Ha, yes, what does that mean? We’re terribly competitive.
Showing her support for her English side, Kate wore a scarf with the team’s logo on it
Kate was all smiles as she leaned over to chat to George and William who seemed engrossed in the match
The Duchess of Cambridge (pictured with William and George at the match) showed off her rugby skills at an event at Twickenham earlier this month to mark her appointment
The family had dressed smart for the sporting occasion which is currently taking place at Twickenham Stadium
Kate was seen leaning down to talk to George at one point during the game and was pointing in the air
George, who has previously attended football matches with the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, stood between his parents for the game
The royal couple met Jeff Blackett, president of the RFU, and Gerald Davies, president of the WRU, prior to kick-off and chatted with volunteers and council members of the RFU
‘The fact we’re now supporting two different teams is going to make things interesting.’
The duchess also told of her children’s enthusiasm for rugby, saying George plays the sport at school and three-year-old Louis likes to be in the ‘middle of everything’.
She is the first member of the royal family to officially receive one of the Sussexes’ past royal patronages, which they were stripped of post-Megxit.
Showing her support for her English side, Kate wore a scarf with the team’s logo on it, while also sporting a black high neck jumper to match with her designer coat, before taking the scarf off once the game had started
The Duchess had her long brunette tresses swept into a sleek blow dried style and had on a natural but pretty makeup look
The Duchess of Cambridge has played tennis and hockey from a young age. She is already royal patron of the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club and is a frequent visitor to the Wimbledon Championships
The Duchess of Cambridge showed off her rugby skills at an event at Twickenham earlier this month to mark her appointment
England and Wales both lost their opening matches of the Guinness Six Nations, but Round 2 wins over Italy and Scotland respectively mean they will be full of confidence heading into this encounter
Kate revealed that George and his siblings Charlotte, six, and Louis, three, were ‘all enjoying’ rugby, with Louis adopting a ‘kamikaze’ style of play. The Duchess of Cambridge has played tennis and hockey from a young age. She is already royal patron of the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club and is a frequent visitor to the Wimbledon Championships.
Less well known is her love of rugby. 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.’
The Duchess of Cambridge showed off her rugby skills at an event at Twickenham earlier this month to mark her appointment. Sporty Kate donned official England Rugby £50 pants and £50 zip-up top as she joined England players for a training session at Twickenham, hours after she was confirmed as the Duke of Sussex’s replacement.
Competitive Kate looked delighted to be stepping into her brother-in-law’s shoes and giggled, laughed and smiled her way through the drills, led by head coach Eddie Jones.
Courtney Lawes returns to captain England’s first match at Twickenham this year. Manu Tuilagi was also set to start but was ruled out with a hamstring problem
George was all smiles at the match as he watched from one of the best seats in the house, between his mother and father in the stands
Kate added a pair of £5 Accessorize earrings to complete the look as she clapped during the opening moments of the rugby match
William and Kate welcomed President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and his wife Olena in the opulent Throne Room at Buckingham Palace in October 2020 – their first audience after the first Covid lockdown
William was seen explaining to George parts of the game as he looked on inquisitively
Kate put on an animated display during the match as she clasped her hands together as the tense match played out
She then clapped when England scored a point in the tense match while George listened with his headphones in
Is Prince George heading for Eton (like his father and uncle)? William and Kate ‘eye up prep school in Berkshire’ as they ‘progress rapidly’ with their plans for a new life in the Home Counties
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are ‘progressing rapidly’ with their plans for a new life in the Home Counties.
The couple are understood to be finalising arrangements to move Prince George to a new prep school in Berkshire this September, with co-educational Lambrook, near Ascot, thought to be the front runner.
But Princess Charlotte, six, is more likely to remain at Thomas’s Battersea for the time being where she is ‘super happy and settled’ and is expected to be joined by her brother, Prince Louis, who turns four this spring.
The couple are also still eyeing up properties in the Windsor area – having looked at several potential family homes on the Queen’s Berkshire estate – with a view to living in the Royal Borough at weekends and holidays.
Handily, Windsor is only a short drive from Kate’s family home in Bucklebury. Her parents, Michael and Carole Middleton, are doting and very hands-on grandparents.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are said to be finalising arrangements to move Prince George (pictured on his first day of school) to a new prep school in Berkshire this September
However Kensington Palace, where they live in Apartment 1A, and have their offices and their charitable Royal Foundation, will remain their weekday base.
It means that in the near future Anmer Hall, their Norfolk home, may revert back to the Queen to pass on to another family member or rented out privately.
The changes have come as William and Kate are starting to map out where they see their family settling down.
It could, of course, be another 20 years before the couple accede to the throne and they are keen to afford their offspring as normal childhoods as possible before then.
Sources say they adore Norfolk and, if their circumstances had been different, would have loved to bring their children up on the Queen’s Sandringham estate.
But they took the house on when William was based in Cambridge working for East Anglian Air Ambulance and their lives are very different now.
Co-educational Lambrook, near Ascot, is thought to be the front runner for George (pictured) but Ludgrove, where Prince William and Prince Harry went, is also being considered
Anmer is a long commute from London, often requiring them to travel by helicopter, and simply isn’t a practical option.
They have a comfortable home-office arrangement at Kensington Palace and are acutely conscious of the £4.5million cost to taxpayers of renovating their 20-room family apartment, in addition to creating new working space.
And their roles require them to be in London more often than not. As a result they have decided to continue living there, even when they become Prince and Princess of Wales, in term-time at least.
But both William and Kate are country people at heart, a love that has been inherited by their children.
Although George, who will turn nine in July, is also extremely happy at Thomas’s in London, his parents believe it is time for him to transfer to an out-of-town school, where all the facilities are on one campus, the Daily Mail understands from multiple, well-placed sources.
Weekly or ‘flexi’ boarding is on the cards. Both William and Kate were boarders from a young age.
Ludgrove, the all-boys Berkshire boarding-only school where Prince William and his brother, Prince Harry, went from the ages of eight to 13, is being considered.
And the couple have been spotted at both St Andrew’s in Pangbourne, where Kate was a pupil – and some insiders think is a good contender – as well as Papplewick, another boys’ school in Ascot.
Apparently on a visit to Papplewick one pupil told Kate that ‘she looked just like the Duchess of Cambridge’.
Sources do tell the Mail, however, that the couple have been seen visiting Lambrook ‘multiple times’ – where William is even said to have chatted with a pupil about Latin lessons.
As a co-educational establishment, it would allow the Cambridges to send all three children to the same school when Charlotte and Louis, who currently attends Wilcocks Nursery, are older.
Lambrook’s leavers go on to a host of prestigious public schools, including Eton. Pictured: Prince William at Eton at age 18
The school charges between £6,448 and £6,999 per term plus a further £1,481 per term for boarding and has been described as ‘bucolic’, with one reviewer saying they spotted ‘children cartwheeling on the croquet lawn… sporting proper rosy cheeks and a healthy outdoorsy glow.’
Its leavers go on to a host of prestigious public schools, including Eton.
It means that George is very likely to follow in his father’s and uncle’s footsteps at 13.
Earlier this month the Mail revealed that Windsor Castle was being earmarked for the Cambridges one day, instead of Prince Charles who prefers Highgrove.
While at school William often walked from Eton to have lunch with his granny at her Berkshire residence.
A source said: ‘It’s an open secret the Cambridges are looking to settle in Berkshire and George is set to leave Thomas’s this summer, unless circumstances suddenly change.
‘It’s the talk of the county and they will, of course, be made extremely welcome.
‘They always put their children front and centre of everything they do, so finding the right school has been a priority. It’s about what works for them as a family.’
Another source, while aware the family were looking at options in Berkshire, stressed no ‘firm decisions’ had yet been made.
Kensington Palace declined to comment.
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Read more at DailyMail.co.uk