Kate Middleton Says She Plays Rugby With Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis
Since becoming Patron of the Rugby Football Union 18 months ago, the Princess of Wales has carried out several engagements to highlight the sport. And today, she was on the pitch near her Windsor home bringing together the rugby organization with her early years campaign Shaping Us.
Kate joined in with a game of netball rugby at the Maidenhead Rugby Club before sitting down in the clubhouse to speak with male players about early childhood experiences and fatherhood. She was joined by Nigel Gillingham OBE, President of the RFU, at the engagement who said that she had previously shared with him how she enjoys playing rugby with her children.
“She was telling me that she regularly plays rugby with her children in the back garden—and lots of other sport,” Gillingham said. “Apparently Charlotte is very much in her mould, very competitive as well apparently.”
He said of the Princess joining in on the pitch today, “You could tell by the smile on her face that she was enjoying it,” and added that when it came to charity work Kate “thinks very deeply about things and cares passionately about things.”
Chairman of Maidenhead Rugby Club, Stephen Bough, was on the opposing team to the Princess. He said of their encounter today, “The way that she comes across, immediately when she came out of the car and it’s just like saying hello to a friend…The key thing is she’s honestly interested, she’s not going through the motions. She does want to hear.”
Bough added about the way that sport brings families together, “The family environment here and I think at most community rugby clubs is a really big one. It is somewhere where you can fall by the wayside a little bit and there’s a helping hand, there’s a hug, a bit of brutality sometimes, a bit of humor that’s a bit hard but I think it’s absolutely essential.”
The Princess also met some of the club’s female players, who talked about the importance of having a woman at the helm of the sport. “I think it’s massively important with Kate being female and coming in and playing sport and being so involved with the Rugby Football Union. It’s massive for young girls to see that,” said Zoe Cox, a player and coach. “And it’s something that’s been missing until Kate got into that position…The girls that are coming through now are so lucky to have that.”
Club volunteer co-ordinator Kate Swinn described Kate as “very personable,” adding that she was “real.” “I know that there’s an image and who she is, but she genuinely seems to listen and genuinely seems to be trying to hone in on the right things.”
During her visit, the Princess was given some earrings designed in memory of 17-year-old club member Issy, who died just over a month ago. Her mother, Sarah Renton, shared how she spoke with Kate about her daughter.
The Princess launched her Shaping Us campaign in January 2023. Kensington Palace has said it "aims to transform the issue of early childhood from one of scientific interest to one of the most strategically important topics of our time."
Today, the Palace said in a statement that the Shaping Us campaign "also highlights that, by focusing our collective time, energy, and resources to build a supportive, nurturing world around all children and those caring for them, we can make a huge difference to the physical and mental health and happiness of generations to come."
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