Kate Middleton says Charlotte is “very competitive” with brothers when they play in the yard

Kate Middleton admitted her daughter Princess Charlotte can get ‘very competitive’ playing rugby with her brothers, a royal fan claimed.

The Princess of Wales, 41, visited Maidenhead Rugby Club yesterday afternoon to take part in a training session as part of her ongoing Shaping Us campaign.

Nigel Gillingham – who is president of the Rugby Football Union – said Kate opened up about her children’s love of rugby during the engagement.

Speak against City & Countryhe explained, “She told me she regularly plays rugby with her kids in the backyard – and a host of other sports.”

In addition, Nigel said that Kate has noticed that her daughter inherited her competitive streak when it comes to sports.

He added: “Apparently Charlotte is very much in her mould, apparently very competitive as well.”

Since marrying the royal family in 2011, Kate Middleton has shown her competitive side in multiple royal engagements – often competing against husband Prince William in football, archery, sailing and sprinting.

The former rugby player says it was clear from the ‘smile on her face’ that Kate – who is also an avid hockey player – was having a good time on the pitch yesterday.

Meanwhile, Stephen Bough – who is president of Maidenhead Rugby Club – highlighted how yesterday Kate greeted people as if they were already friends and seemed ‘genuinely interested’ in their club.

After training ended, Kate was approached by Sarah Renton – whose 17-year-old daughter Issy Phipps sadly passed away a few weeks ago after struggling with depression.

The grieving mother of three gave Kate a pair her cousin made in memory of Issy.

Kate was visibly moved by her interaction with Ms Renton, who coaches the under-14 boys at the club, and put her arm around the mother before giving her a warm hug.

Mrs Renton later said that the princess had promised to wear the jewelery at a later date in memory of Issy.

The Princess of Wales admitted that her daughter can be “very competitive” with her brothers, said Rugby Football Union president Nigel Gillingham.

Prince George, nine, Prince Louis, five, and Princess Charlotte, eight, photographed at Trooping the Color in June 2022

A keen rugby player herself, Issy Phipps played for Maidenhead RFC from the age of four, before joining Reading RFC as she got older.

Last month, Princess Charlotte looked like a pro when she got stuck into archery at the Big Help Out initiative in Slough after King Charles’s coronation.

Dressed in a £299 Ralph Lauren pink cable knit jumper, denim shorts and £20 trainers, Charlotte wore a yellow and purple Scouts tie around her neck.

Kate and William’s second child looked like a pro as she operated the bow and watched her target in advance.

Charlotte seemed to put all her strength into the task and frowned a little as she let go of the bow.

Having clearly inherited her mother’s sporting talents, Charlotte managed to get an instant hit on her first attempt – blowing her brothers out of the park.

Princess Charlotte, eight, looked like a pro as she wielded her plastic bow and arrow at the volunteer event in Slough

Prince Louis, five, was also determined to keep up with his siblings and made an animated face as he tried his hand at archery

Prince William was on hand to give Prince George some archery tips at the Big Help Out event

After shovelling sand and getting behind the wheel of a JCB, Prince Louis attempted to shoot a bow and arrow.

Determined not to accept any help, Prince Louis ran back and forth several times to pick up his arrows and hit the target several times.

The adorable five-year-old grimaced as he studied the target in front of him – trying his best to keep up with his older siblings.

“Come on, Louis, you can do it,” Kate called out.

When it was Prince George’s turn, he decided to take on his parents.

But while he was trying it out, Prince William gave his son some pointers as he looked over his shoulder.

Finally, the Princess of Wales also tried her best at the activity. Although the princess did have the small advantage that she had taken an archery lesson during a royal visit to Bhutan in 2016.