When you hear the words ‘the British royal family,’ what do you picture? We can’t help but think of beautiful ball gowns, suits and ties, tiaras, structured blazers…
Essentially, we believe the royals have become synonymous with formal and business wear.
And can you blame us? Whenever Princess Catherine makes a public appearance, she’s usually wearing either a tailored dress, a blazer and trousers, or a ball gown.
Catherine, Princess of Wales, isn’t against playing a bit of sport.
And as for King Charles, Prince William and Prince Harry, nine times out of ten, they’re sporting a suit and tie.
But the royal family is not opposed to getting their hands dirty. And by that we mean ditching traditional clothing and playing some sport.
Yes, there have been numerous occasions where members of The House of Windsor have gotten, to quote the late Olivia-Newton John, physical.
Don’t believe us? Read on to see every time a member of the British royal family has played a sport…
01
Princess Catherine is Patron of the Rugby Football League, and so, on October 5, 2023, she took part in a wheelchair rugby training session, facilitated by members of the world-cup winning England Wheelchair Rugby League squad, during a Rugby League Inclusivity Day. Clearly, the Princess of Wales had a ball…
02
Prince Harry saddled up for the Sentebale ISPS Handa Polo Cup in Singapore on August 12, 2023.
The annual Polo Cup has been running since 2010, and to date has raised over £11 million (AU$21 million) to support Sentebale’s work with children and young people affected by poverty, inequality and HIV/AIDS in southern Africa.
03
While Queen Camilla may not be a table-tennis champion, she revealed at the 2023 Wimbledon Tennis Championship that she was a Ball Girl in her youth.
“You have to be very agile. I remember doing it one hundred years ago at the Queen’s Club. It is quite difficult to get it right,” she told a group of Wimbledon Ball Girls and Boys.
04
On June 25, 2023, Princess Catherine, along with tennis champion Roger Federer, appeared in a video which celebrates the Ball Boys and Girls (BBGs) who help at Wimbledon.
In the clip, Catherine obviously plays some tennis but she also participates in multiple training sessions such as signalling, ball changes, rolling balls up to the net, and bouncing the balls back to players.
05
Princess Catherine is Patron of the Rugby Football Union and on June 7, 2023, the Princess took part in a game of walking touch rugby when she visited Maidenhead Rugby Club.
06
During his visit to CATCH – a youth-led charity – on November 30, 2021, Prince William played some table tennis.
07
King Charles played cricket while in Cardiff back when he was still the Prince of Wales on July 9, 2021.
08
Prince William and Prince Harry competed during the King Power Royal Charity Polo Day for the Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha Memorial Trophy on July 10, 2019.
09
Meghan Markle, Duchess of Sussex, played Australian Rules football during her official visit to Melbourne on October 18, 2018.
10
Prince William engaged in a game of soccer with the Lionesses and local girls team from the Wildcats Girls’ Football programme on July 13, 2017.
11
During a London Marathon Training Day held on February 5, 2017, Prince William, Prince Harry and Princess Catherine competed in a running race together.
12
On March 22, 2012, the then-Prince Charles played basketball during his visit to Fryshuset Youth Centre in Stockholm, Sweden.
13
Princess Diana famously took part in the Mother’s Race during Prince Harry’s school sports day in Richmond on June 11, 1991.
14
When King Charles was younger he was an avid polo player. Here he is during a match that was held on May 9, 1977.
