The Duchess of Cambridge wasted no time in getting stuck into her new role as patron of England Rugby and took part in a training session within hours of taking over the role from Prince Harry.
Sporty Kate, 40, looked the part in official England Rugby £50 pants and £50 zip-up top as she joined England players for the session run by head coach Eddie Jones. She finished the look with £90 Adidas rugby boots.
The Duchess, known for her competitive nature and love of sport, flashed a smile as she ran towards the try line and threw her arms up in celebration after scoring.
Proving she’s not afraid of getting stuck in, Kate put her arms around England players Jamie George and Ellis Genge in a mock scrum and was lifted into the air in a line-out, prompting a fit of giggles.
She also took part in simple throwing and catching exercises and tried a drop kick.
During the visit Kate also spoke to members of the England squad about their opening Six Nations match against Scotland on Saturday. She was shown into Twickenham by women’s captain Sarah Hunter and men’s captain Courtney Lawes, who was today ruled out of this weekend’s match due to injury.
The outing comes hours after the Duchess was announced as the new Patron of the Rugby Football League and the Rugby Football Union, roles previously held by her brother-in-law the Duke of Sussex. He was stripped of all patronages and honorary military titles following his and wife Meghan’s decision to quit as senior working royals.
Kate, an avid sports fan, is the first royal to be given one of the Sussexes’ former patronages by the Queen.
In her element! The Duchess, dressed head-to-toe in England Rugby kit, beamed as she joined players for a training session
Having a ball! Giggling Kate took part in a line-out with members of the England women’s rugby team at Twickenham
Getting stuck in: The Duchess of Cambridge was the hooker between props Jamie George (left) and Ellis Genge in a scrum
Keeping up with Kate! The Duchess of Cambridge looked full of energy as she joined players for the Twickenham training
Five points to Kate! The Duchess of Cambridge beamed as she scored a try at Twickenham Stadium this morning
Victory! Kate threw her arms up in celebration after scoring a try at Twickenham this morning
Ready for kick off! Giving her cousin-in-law Mike Tindall a run for his money, Kate showed she’s a hands on patron as she kicked the ball today
She’s got the skills! Sporty Kate dashed across the pitch with a rugby ball during the training session at Twickenham
Learning from the pros: The Duchess of Cambridge chatted to the England Rugby team ahead of the training session today
HRH Hysterics! The Duchess of Cambridge broke into laughter as she was lifted up by players
All hail queen Kate! The Duchess of Cambirdge threw her hands up in celebration after pulling off a successful move
The Duchess of Cambridge also spoke to members of the women’s team ahead of their Six Nations tournament and World Cup in New Zealand later this year, and will hear about how the pandemic has impacted the sport over the past two years.
In a tweet today Kate said she is ‘thrilled’ to be supporting the Rugby Football League and the Rugby Football Union, ‘two fantastic organisations who are committed to harnessing the power that sport can have in bringing communities together and helping individuals flourish’.
The post was accompanied by a video of Kate, dressed in exercise gear, showing off her skills with a rugby ball in the grounds of Kensington Palace, alongside clips of stars across the men’s and women’s game.
Kate, who once enjoyed a warm relationship with her brother-in-law, Harry will step into his shoes and will be ‘front and centre’ at the upcoming games.
Showing her the ropes: England players Jamie George (left) and Ellis Genge (right) had Kate in fits of giggles on the pitch
Ready for action: The Duchess of Cambridge was sandwiched between Jamie George (left) and Ellis Genge for the scrum
Putting her foot in it! The Duchess of Cambridge showed off her moves as she joined the England players for a session
Making a dash for it! The Duchess of Cambridge ran towards the try line at Twickenham Stadium today
Trying her best! Under the watchful eye of the England Women’s Rugby team, Kate scored a try at Twickenham today
Putting her best foot forward: The Duchess of Cambridge lined up the ball for a kick as part of the training session today
Lifting the spirits! A jovial Kate Middleton giggled as she was hoisted into the air as part of a line-out
Giving chase: The England players jogged behind the Duchess of Cambridge as she crossed the try line and scored
I am the champion! Kate Middleton, who was today announced as the new England Rugby patron, looked thrilled
Sporting queen: The Duchess of Cambridge chatted to England Rugby staff, players and referees today
Plenty to smile about! The Duchess of Cambridge couldn’t keep the smile from her face as she joined in the session
Throwabout: The Duchess of Cambridge enjoys watching rugby – but proved she can also play it at today’s engagement
Sporting stars: The Duchess of Cambridge spoke to the England team ahead of their first Six Nations match this weekend
It was previously reportedly thought Kate would champion the RFU’s ‘inner warrior’ campaign, which aims to help recruit more female players into clubs.
She is one of the sportiest members of the Royal Family and she is already royal patron of the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club. She is a frequent visitor to the Wimbledon Championships – but it is less well known that Kate is also a huge rugby fan.
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.’
Princess Anne, who also enjoys the sport, is the patron of the Scottish Rugby Union
Harry himself took over the patronage from the Queen in 2016. Before that he was vice patron from 2010 and was seen as a committed ambassador for the England side.
Rolling up her sleeves: Always ready to get stuck in, Kate looked like one of the players as she arrived at Twickenham today
On top of the world! Kate was lifted up in a line-out during a visit to Twickenham Stadium where she met with England stars
In the action! The Duchess looked as excited as if she was playing a real game as she threw the ball around the pitch today
You can’t catch me! Kate who has long been an advocate for sports and fitness looked fierce on the field as she ran with the ball
A sporting star! Kate made sure she didn’t remain on the side lines and got involved in the game to the amusement of her fellow players
Pass it to the Princess! Kate looked delighted as she flew high in the air and met members of the men’s and women’s squads ahead of the Six Nations Championships and the Womens World Cup
A high pass! Showing she’s not afraid to get stuck in Kate threw the ball around while being lifted by strong members of the England squad
In her element! Sporty Kate donned the England Rugby kit and held onto a a O2 branded ball as she beamed in delight on the pitch
No tackling allowed! Kate looked ready to join the squad as she grabbed hold of the ball while England players attempted to tackle her
Duchess of Cambridge opted for adidas black boots with a pink stripe and an England Rugby jersey for her day on the pitch
Waiting for the drop! Duchess of Cambridge, in her new role as Patron of the Rugby Football Union, is seen about to drop kick the ball during a visit to Twickenham Stadium
And we’re off! Kate kicked the ball while looking ready to rumble with her hair tied back and opting for minimal make-up
A real class pass! Kate looked great as she threw a rugby ball around during the England national training sessions today
Ready for action! Kate beamed in delight while playing the sport. She has long been a fan and support of Rugby and looked in her element throwing the ball around
He even went on an alleged 25-hour drinking session with the team in Paris in 2007 after they lost the World Cup.
The Duke of Sussex had initially retained the positions after Megxit and wanted to keep them as part of the departure deal.
But he was later stripped of all his royal patronages, along with his honorary military appointments, after talks with the Queen and senior royals after a 12-month ‘cooling off period’ that followed their decision to quit as working royals and move to the US.
Until now, no member of the Royal Family has been handed one of the Sussexes’ patronages.
Some suspect the Queen did not want to risk antagonising her grandson, who has spent much of the past two years taking pot-shots at his family from across the Atlantic.
The Duchess of Cambridge arrived at Twickenham this morning to meet players and take part in a training session
Dressed in England Rugby drill pants and an official jacket, Kate, 40, appeared in excellent spirits as she arrived at the west London stadium to meet England players, coaches and referees
The Duchess of Cambridge spent time speaking to women’s team players, coaches and referees at the event today
6ft 5in Courtney Lawes, who was today ruled out of the first Six Nations tie, towered over the Duchess of Cambridge (right). Left, Kate flashes a smile as she chats to members of the men’s squad
The Duchess of Cambridge shared a joke with members of the England Women’s squad during her visit to Twickenham today
Beaming Kate couldn’t keep the smile from her face as she took to the pitch ahead of the training session today
The Duchess of Cambridge wore her brunette locks swept back into a sporty high ponytail for the engagement
Captain Courtney Lawes accompanied Kate onto the pitch, where she spoke to members of the men’s squad
The Duchess of Cambridge dressed head-to-toe in England Rugby kit as she stepped out for the first time in her role as patron
Sporty Kate looked perfectly at ease as she spoke to England Rugby players, coaches and referees at Twickenham today
One of the girls! Kate stands in a huddle with players from the England women’s rugby team, including captain Sarah Hunter
The Duchess of Cambridge chatted to England Rugby captains Courtney Lawes and Sarah Hunter on her arrival at Twickenham
‘People just tread a bit carefully when it comes to them,’ one source told the Daily Mail.
But with the Six Nations Championship coming up this week, the need for a figurehead was pressing.
It is also expected that the Queen may now start to redistribute more of the couple’s dormant patronages.
For Harry these include, in addition to his ex-military affiliations, the presidency of the Queen’s Commonwealth Trust and the London Marathon Charitable Trust.
Meghan also had to hand back patronages with the Royal National Theatre and the Association of Commonwealth Universities, as well as her vice presidency of the Queen’s Commonwealth Trust.
Ready for a family game? Kate appeared to hold on to a children’s kit in one snap – which might fit her son Louis, three
Striding out in confidence: The Duchess of Cambridge, a keen sportswoman, looked keen to get going on the pitch
Light-hearted: The royal shared a joke with England rugby players ahead of the training session this morning
A gift for the kids? Rugby players had mini kits and balls ready, preparing to give them to the royal mother-of-three
Ready to go! The Duchess of Cambridge looked excited as she arrived at Twickenham Stadium, in London, this morning