The Princess of Wales has always been known to be athletic and sporty – but she surpassed all expectations when she completed the Three Peaks mountain challenge over the weekend.
Kate, 44, climbed Ben Nevis in Scotland, Scafell Pike in England, and Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon) in Wales to raise funds for The Royal Marsden, where she underwent treatment for cancer.
In a video shared online by entrepreneur Phillip Tebajjwa, who was also climbing Snowdon at the weekend, Kate could be seen climbing down the mountain in hiking shorts, alongside her younger brother, James Middleton.
The Princess appeared to be wearing the £65 North Face Summit Series Pacesetter shorts in the colour iron clay, as identified by fashion website Kate’s Closet.
It meant that Kate revealed a very rare glimpse of her toned legs, which appeared muscled and strong in preparation for her hike.
Royal fans were left gobsmacked by the royal’s muscled thighs, and rushed to social media to theorise about her workout routine.
© Phillip TebajjwaThe Princess of Wales revealed a very rare glimpse of her toned legs in hiking shorts
One person wrote: “The slender, toned, and divine legs this queen has, please.”
A second theorised: “The training she has gone through to build up for this, is not for the weak! You only have to look at the muscles in her legs to know that she works out a lot and definitely doesn’t skip leg day.”
Why does the royal family rarely wear shorts?
During royal engagements, the Princess tends to wear smart trouser suits and long skirts, which usually reach the ankles. In rare cases that she wears anything shorter, she will usually be seen in tights, as per royal protocol, while lengths are always kept modest.
© Samir Hussein/WireImageKate rarely wears shorts
It means it’s incredibly rare to see members of the royal family in shorts – though they occasionally wear them for more casual or private occasions.
For example, the Prince and Princess of Wales wore shorts in Kate’s cancer recovery video from 2024. Kate went bare-legged with trainers – going for a more casual dress code due to it being an intimate family video.
Skirts are usually recommended to sit no more than four inches above the knee, while tights should be worn in all weather.
© GettyMeghan during an official photocall to announce her engagement to Prince Harry in 2017 – wearing no tights
Meghan Markle didn’t wear tights when she announced her engagement to Prince Harry in 2017, but this is very rare. The late Princess Diana also preferred to go bare-legged.
The Princess of Wales’s rigorous fitness routine
The endurance event saw the Princess walk 23 miles, climb 3,064 metres, and travel 462 miles between locations.
Princess Kate took on the Three Peaks Challenge at the weekend
HELLO!’s head of audience, Tim Kiek, who previously completed the challenge, said the climb would have taken real fortitude, as well as mountain-specific training exercises.
The Princess of Wales is known to be a big fan of sports, including tennis, rugby, sailing, basketball, and more, which likely helped her prepare for the challenge.
The Three Peaks Challenge: key details
Challenge
Climb the highest mountains in Scotland, England and Wales within 24 hours
Mountains
Ben Nevis: 1,345 m (4,413 ft)
Snowdon: 1,085 m (3,560 ft)
Scafell Pike: 978 m (3,209 ft)
Walking Distance
23 miles (37 km)
Total Ascent
3,064 m (10,052 ft)
Driving Distance
Approx. 462 miles
Typical Order
Ben Nevis → Scafell Pike → Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa)
Interesting fact
Scafell Pike and Snowdon are the highest peaks in their respective countries but don’t make the overall top three highest peaks on the British mainland. Alongside Ben Nevis (the biggest in Britain), this distinction goes to…
Ben Macdui: 1,309 meters (4,295 feet)
Braeriach: 1,296 meters (4,252 feet)
In addition, it’s been said that she’s taken part in CrossFit classes in the past, and reportedly has a gym membership at Harbour Club in London.
She also loves running. Mike Tindall made the revelation during an interview with The Telegraph, saying: “They’re just a family who love sport. Catherine loves her running.”
WATCH: Princess Kate’s best sporting moments