While chatting with the England women’s rugby team at Windsor Castle, the Princess of Wales made a candid admission about her eldest son and the brutal way he plays the sport
12:04, 16 Jan 2026Updated 12:04, 16 Jan 2026
Princess Kate has shared a candid admission about her eldest child Prince George, and how she often avoids him, as he grows into a teenager, when playing sport at home. The Princess of Wales hosted the World Cup winning Red Roses England women’s rugby team at Windsor Castle to celebrate their September 2025 victory.
While mingling with the players and their coach, Kate – who is patron of the Rugby Football Union – praised their win and hailed the “amazing achievement,” telling the world champions: “You’ve really inspired all the new generation (that) perhaps might not even have thought rugby was for them.”
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Kate spoke about her children’s love of sport during an engagement at Windsor Castle(Image: PA)
The Red Roses beat Canada 33-13 in the final in front of a record-breaking crowd of 81,885 spectators at a sold-out Twickenham, securing a third World Cup victory for England following wins in 2014 and 1994.
Kate added: “I think it really showed how accessible rugby is to so many types of girls, in different parts of the country.” When asked if her daughter played the sport, the princess replied: “Charlotte is playing rugby but at home with the family, so she isn’t yet at school, and I was asking how many schools are actually incorporating (rugby).
“Rugby is so accessible, Louis is playing touch rugby and it’s such a great game. Actually, they shouldn’t necessarily push boys and girls in particular sports too early.”
Kate then had the rugby team in stitches with her candid comment about Prince George, as she said: “Obviously as they get physically stronger – George now, if we play at home, I do not want to get tackled by George – but, up to a certain age, I think it’s great.”
Kate welcomed the Red Roses to Windsor to celebrate their World Cup victory(Image: PA)
The Princess of Wales has long been an avid supporter of the Red Roses, as she followed their World Cup campaign and attended a match, watching from the stands as they beat Australia in Brighton in a pool match, before joining the players when they held a celebratory sing-song in the changing rooms.
Sports Personality of the Year nominee Ellie Kildunne joked with Kate about the cowboy hat she wore when she came into the dressing room and later said the princess had joined a few of the players in a cowboy lasso dance.
The meeting at Windsor Castle was Kate’s first solo engagement of 2026, and many royal fans were delighted when footage from outside the castle showed the princess driving herself to the meeting.
Kate with the Red Roses captain Zoe Stratford(Image: AP)
Video shared on social media showed the Princess of Wales arriving behind the wheel of a dark car and stepping out in the rain holding an umbrella, accompanied by a man. The clip prompted a major fan reaction online, with one post on X saying: “The Princess of Wales drove herself to Windsor Castle this afternoon to host a reception for the England Women’s rugby team – in an Alexander McQueen suit and stilettos. Iconic”.
Another added: “So amazing she doesn’t require people to drive her and can easily do it herself.” Another impressed fan wrote: “Driving in stilettos – respect right there!”
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