The Princess of Wales shared her athletic adventures with her children with the England women’s rugby team

(Left) Kate Middleton at Windsor Castle on Jan. 15, 2026; (Right) Prince George at The Passage on Dec. 16, 2025.Credit : Kin Cheung – WPA Pool/Getty; Andrew Parsons/Kensington Palace

Kate Middleton is staying out of Prince George’s way when they play rugby!

On Jan. 15, the Princess of Wales, 44, joked that she doesn’t want to get hit by her 12-year-old son when they play the contact sport at home.

Princess Kate made the revelation while hosting a reception for England’s Women’s Rugby team at Windsor Castle, an event celebrating the squad’s World Cup win in September 2025.

“It’s such a great game, actually, they shouldn’t necessarily need to pigeonhole boys and girls into particular sports too early,” the Princess of Wales told athletes at the royal reception, according to Rebecca English of the Daily Mail.

“Obviously, as they get physically stronger… George, now, if I play at home, I do not want to get tackled by George! But no, up to a certain age it’s great. Sports like swimming at school is very much co-ed,” she added.

Kate Middleton meets members of the England Women’s Rugby team at Windsor Castle on Jan. 15, 2026.Kin Cheung – WPA Pool/Getty

On Christmas Day, Princess Kate didn’t disagree when a well-wisher told her that Prince George was “going to be 6’4” one day!

The quip from British royal family superfan John Loughrey during the royals’ annual Sandringham church outing made her laugh and she said, “I know, I swear, he’s catching up with everybody, isn’t he?”

Prince George seems to be catching up to his parents in height — Prince William, 43, is 6’3″ and Princess Kate is 5’9″.

Prince George at Sandringham on Dec. 25, 2025.Samir Hussein/WireImage

The Prince and Princess of Wales are parents to Prince George, Princess Charlotte, 10, and Prince Louis, 7, and Princess Kate also spoke about her younger two children’s interest in rugby at the Jan. 15 reception.

“Charlotte is playing rugby but at home with the family, so she isn’t yet at school,” Kate said about her daughter, the Daily Mail reported. “Rugby is so accessible; Louis is playing touch rugby, and it’s such a great game,” she added about her youngest son.

In an adorable anecdote, Princess Kate shared that Louis is participating in “Rugbytots” sessions. Rugbytots is a weekly rugby play program for boys and girls between the ages of 2 and 7 and offers classes around the world.

Prince William, Prince George, Prince Louis, Princess Charlotte and Kate Middleton at the Together at Christmas Carol Service at Westminster Abbey on Dec. 5, 2025.Chris Jackson/Getty

“He’s sort of 7, 8 now, and he’s enjoying it,” she told England’s Women’s Rugby team captain Zoe Stratford, vice captains Marlie Packer and Megan Jones and head coach John Mitchell. “At this time of year, the pitch is either totally swamped, or they’re hard.”

The Princess of Wales is patron of England’s women’s rugby team and may have dressed in tribute to the team’s Red Roses nickname by wearing a sleek red Alexander McQueen suit to the festive reception.

Kate Middleton (center) with members of England’s Women’s Rugby team at Windsor Castle on Jan. 15, 2026.Kin Cheung – WPA Pool/Getty

Princess Kate went to see the Red Roses play during their World Cup quest in September and has previously spoken about how Prince George has the “physique” for the game.

“They are trying to teach him the rules,” she said in 2023 about how George was learning touch rugby at school. “They move them around for their confidence. Because he is tall, he has the physique.”