Kate Middleton was one poised princess at her latest rugby engagement.
The Princess of Wales, 41, knew what to do when a young attendee tried to tickle her at Rugby League’s Inclusive Day organized by Rugby Football League, Hull FC and Hull University on Thursday. As seen in video shared by Sky News on XPrincess Kate was chatting with another participant with her back turned when a young man grabbed her waist.
Royal sighed and turned to see who it was, before sharing a laugh with the boy and shaking his hand. The Princess of Wales is known for her warm demeanor when things go off-script on official outings, from Prince Louis’ animated antics at Queen Elizabeth’s Platinum Jubilee to Princess Charlotte’s tongue-in-cheek 2019 charity sailing race.
Kate Middleton at the Inclusive Rugby League Day at the Allam Sports Center on October 5.
Samir Hussein/WireImage
Kate Middleton joins wheelchair rugby to highlight inclusivity in sport
Kate traveled to Hull on Tuesday to highlight the positive impact disability rugby league is having on those who play the sport. Princess Kate also wanted to show how sport can help tackle inequality and provide a platform to develop skills and fitness regardless of circumstances or background.
The Princess of Wales attended the event as Patron of the Rugby Football League, looking stylish in a branded polo shirt, joggers and trainers. The sports royal took part in a wheelchair rugby match and training run by the World Cup-winning England Wheelchair Rugby League team, where she surprised with an unexpected addition – finger bandages. A Kensington Palace spokesperson tells PEOPLE that “following her recent minor injury to her hand, it has been taped as a precaution.”
Kate’s index and middle fingers were taped together on her right hand, the same fingers she was first bandaged on while in the men’s prison in September. The Princess of Wales injured her hand while playing on the trampoline with her children Prince George, 10, Princess Charlotte, 8, and Prince Louis, 5. A Kensington Palace spokesperson told PEOPLE it was “a minor injury, nothing serious.”
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Kate Middleton at the Inclusive Rugby League Day at the Allam Sports Center on October 5.
SCOTT HEPPELL/POOL/AFP via Getty
Kate Middleton admits she is ‘concerned’ about her bandaged finger at a wheelchair rugby match
According to Daily mailthe princess of wales mentioned the bandages while talking to the athlete before taking the field.
“I’m worried about my finger, but I’m willing to try,” she said before a wheelchair rugby match, where she almost collided with a post – but still managed to score.
Elsewhere during the visit, Princess Kate told Tom Coyd, England’s wheelchair rugby league coach, that she and her family were “screaming” at the TV when the team won the Rugby League World Cup final in November 2022. and that George, Charlotte and Louis are all about action.
“She told me the crashes on TV were what hooked the kids,” Coyd told Daily mail. The revelation follows Kate’s previous comments that George and Charlotte play rugby and that Louis is “crazy” for the sport – perhaps inspiring gifted jerseys with her children’s names on them.
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Kate Middleton at the Inclusive Rugby League Day at the Allam Sports Center on October 5.
Chris Jackson/Getty Images
At Rugby League’s Inclusive Day on Thursday, Kate learned more about the wider sport. Wheelchair rugby league is currently the most inclusive format in all of rugby league, giving everyone the opportunity to play together regardless of gender or disability. She also heard about Physical Disability Rugby League (PDRL), a full-contact version of the game adapted for physically disabled players who want to access the running version of the sport, and Learning Disability Rugby League (LDRL), a non-competitive version of the sport specially adapted for people with learning disabilities .
The sporting engagement was Kate’s last rugby-related outing for one of her more recent royal roles. Queen Elizabeth appointed her granddaughter Patron of the Rugby Football Union and Rugby Football League in February 2022. It was the first redistributed position previously held by Prince Harry, who stepped down from his working royal role with wife Meghan Markle in 2020.
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Kate Middleton at the Inclusive Rugby League Day at the Allam Sports Center on October 5.
Scott Heppell – WPA collection/Getty
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In January, the Princess of Wales hosted a reception for England’s wheelchair rugby league team at Hampton Court Palace in recognition of last November’s World Cup win, where she spoke about how the sport brings her family together.
“We’re always a bit competitive with each other. They all love sports and Louis is crazy about rugby,” the royal mum said of George, Charlotte and Louis, who she shares with husband Prince William. Daily Mirror reported. “They’re at an age where they just love to run.”
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Source: HIS Education