The Princess of Wales has told how she plays rugby at home with her children but added of her eldest son, who is shooting up: ‘I do not want to get tackled by George!’
She told members of the World Cup winning Red Roses England ladies’ rugby team that both Prince George, 12, and Prince Louis, seven, play the sport at school, while Charlotte, ten, joins in when the family plays together at home.
And she revealed that Louis takes part in extra-curricular ‘Rugbytots’ sessions for younger boys and girls aged up to seven.
During a discussion about how schools often don’t segregate boys and girls for sport when they are younger, she said: ‘Charlotte is playing rugby but at home with the family, so she isn’t yet at school.
‘Rugby is so accessible; Louis is playing touch rugby and it’s such a great game.
‘Actually, they shouldn’t necessarily need to pigeon hole boys and girls in particular sports too early.
‘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.’
Chatting to captain Zoe Stratford (formerly Aldcroft), vice captains Marlie Packer and Megan Jones and head coach John Mitchell, Catherine told how Louis joins Rugbytots sessions.
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Kate hosted the women’s rugby squad, who won the tournament for the third time on home soil, with the World Cup trophy taking centre stage at the reception
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The Princess of Wales has welcomed England’s Red Roses to Windsor Castle to celebrate their Rugby World Cup triumph last autumn
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The Princess of Wales receives a signed rugby shirt and other memorabilia with Zoe Stratford, Captain of the England Rugby team, during a reception on Thursday
‘He’s sort of seven, eight now and he’s enjoying it,’ she said. ‘At this time of year the pitch is either totally swamped or they’re hard.’
Catherine, who is patron of the Rugby Football Union, was hosting a reception at Windsor Castle for the national team to celebrate their achievement in September 2025 – the team’s first World Cup win since 2014.
They were welcomed to the Green Drawing Room by the Band of the Irish Guards – of which the Princess is Colonel – who played tunes including 9 to 5 and New York, New York.
The team, who were all wearing their winners’ medals, had been celebrating the night before with a ball to Grosvenor Hotel in London.
‘Was everyone there last night? Any sore heads this morning?’ the princess asked, to laughs. ‘Honestly, really well done. I hope you were able to celebrate last night and to really reminisce on what an incredible achievement.
‘What does it feel like looking back on that time now?’
She added: ‘You’ve really inspired all the new generation [that] perhaps might not even have thought rugby was for them.
‘I think it really showed how accessible rugby is to so many types of girls in different parts of the country.’
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The Princess of Wales smiles as she meets with members of the World Cup-winning Red Roses squad
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The team wore matching Red Roses branded suits and brought their gold medals to the meeting with Kate
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Sports Personality of the Year nominee Ellie Kildunne (left) and teammate Emily Scarratt (right) were some of the players to attend the reception with the princess
She was shown a scrap book compiled by prop Maud Muir, containing memorabilia from her World Cup journey, and captain Zoe handed the Princess a bag of gifts – a signed England rugby shirt and a medal.
Ellie Kildunne, who was nominated for last year’s BBC Sports Personality of the Year, spoke afterwards about how the princess had gamely sported a cowboy hat at one of the matches, in a nod to the team’s celebratory ‘cowboy’ dance.
‘She was a good sport and put the hat on, she did a bit of a cowboy dance, and it was a really special moment and she’s now officially a cowboy so I will have to tattoo her as well,’ added Ellie, who has her own tattoo gun and has inked herself, team mates and head coach John.
Speaking about the royal children, Ellie said: ‘We asked if Charlotte plays any rugby and she said she does want to play but she’s not [playing] in school yet, but the two boys are involved in rugby and love it.
‘The game of rugby and what it brings to individuals and families is something she is very bought into so it’s nice to see that rugby is in the royal family as well.’
The tournament win was the third for the Red Roses on home soil, and Kate had followed the team’s campaign in her role as patron of the Rugby Football Union, watching from the stands when they defeated Australia in Brighton in a pool match.
She later joined the players when they held a celebratory sing-song in the changing rooms.
In the final, the Red Roses beat Canada 33-13 in front of a record 81,885 spectators who filled a sold-out Twickenham, a third World Cup victory following wins in 2014 and 1994.
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Britain’s Kate, Princess of Wales, poses with members of the England Women’s rugby team, at Windsor Castle today
It marked a new milestone for the sport, after the first women’s competition was held in 1991, with the tournament gaining official backing from the International Rugby Board at the third event in 1998.
Among the guests were captain Zoe Stratford, double Rugby World Cup winner Marlie Packer and head coach John Mitchell – who were all named as OBE recipients in the New Year Honours.
They were joined by vice-captain Megan Jones, standout back row Sadia Kabeya and the rest of the squad.
Also in attendance was Sports Personality of the Year nominee Ellie Kildunne, 26, who, along with Jones and Kabeya, were recognised with MBE awards.
Kildunne became the first female rugby player to be shortlisted for the BBC gong and the first English rugby ace since Jonny Wilkinson and Jason Robinson in 2007.
The full back said at the time: ‘To be the first female rugby player ever to be nominated is a huge honour.
‘We’ve been told no one’s going to watch women’s rugby and no one’s bothered, so to be able to say I’ve been nominated for something as big as Sports Personality is something I’m hugely proud of.
‘It’s something I’ve got to pinch myself about given the number of fantastic sports stars that could have been nominated.’
Golfer Rory McIlroy ultimately won the award, with Kildunne coming in second.
The Red Roses were also nominated under the team of the year award, alongside the Lionesses, who took home glory in the Euros earlier this year.
The Princess of Wales, who was wearing a suitably red suit for the occasion, smiled and laughed as she chatted to members of the team and coaching staff.
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Kate hosted the winning women’s rugby squad and senior leadership of the RFU, with the World Cup trophy taking centre stage at the reception
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The Princess of Wales met with players including Abbie Dow and Holly Aitchison (both back right) during the reception at Windsor Palace
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Rugby player Claudia Moloney-MacDonald shelters under an umbrella as she arrives at Windsor Castle after the squad’s coach broke down
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Vice-captain of the squad Marlie Packer (right) arrives with teammate Rosie Galligan at Windsor Castle on Thursday
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The Red Roses were supposed to be given a tour of Windsor Castle as part of the visit, but this was cancelled after their coach broke down on the way
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Players Maud Muir (left) and Hannah Botterman (right) take shelter from the rain as they arrive at Windsor Castle today
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Players Hannah Botterman (left) and Emily Scarratt (right) smile as the team was greeted by the Princess of Wales
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Head coach John Mitchell arrives at Windsor Castle to celebrate the success of the Red Roses with the Princess of Wales
She was pictured receiving a rugby shirt signed by the entire squad with captain Zoe Stratford, as the team gathered around the trophy.
The Princess also posed for an official photo with the entire team and coaching staff.
The players arrived late after their coach broke down and their private tour of Windsor Castle, ahead of their reception with Kate, had to be cancelled.
The team wore matching Red Roses suits and brought their gold medals to the Castle, where they were also greeted by the 2025 President of the RFU, Deborah Griffin OBE.
Ms Griffin was the first female President to be appointed to the role, which is voluntary and changes on an annual basis.
The victory in the World Cup final took the team to a 33-strong consecutive winning streak, and was watched by the largest crowd ever for a women’s rugby match.
The almost 82,000 fans also put the game in the record books as the second-best attended game for any men’s or women’s rugby team.
Only New Zealand have won the women’s trophy more times than the Red Roses, taking it home on six occasions including the previous tournament in 2022 – after it was delayed by a year due to the pandemic.
The team’s win was just the latest addition to a glittering summer of women’s sport, with the England women’s football team retaining their Euros crown back in July.
