Prince William and Kate Middleton take on curling as they unveil competitive side
William said it is "harder than it looks"Kate Middleton and Prince William have shown off their competitive side as they engaged in a game of curling.
The royal couple headed to Scotland this week to visit the National Curling Academy in Stirling. Kate and Wills were on hand to wish the athletes competing in the sport in the upcoming Winter Olympics and Paralympics luck ahead of next month.
And while there, the pair let their sporty sides shine as they took part in a curling challenge.
Kate Middleton and Prince William play curling
On Tuesday (January 20), Kate and William visited the National Curling Academy in Stirling. The couple spoke to the teams about the sport curling, which dates back to 16th-century Scotland.
When playing curling, two teams have to slide heavy granite stones towards a circular target that is called the “house”. The aim is to have your stone closest to the centre.
And it didn’t take long for Kate and William to go head-to-head in a game on the ice. After being given a five-minute demonstration, it was Kate and William’s turn.
A nervous Kate stepped out as William gave his wife tips. He told her: “Just lean on both Catherine,” referring to the delivery stick and red stone that help players steady themselves.
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Kate beats William
Afterwards, it was time for Kate and William to play the sport against each other. The future king and queen quickly got involved, showing off their competitive but sweet side.
On her second attempt, Kate managed to push the stone, which stopped right in the middle. Over the moon, Kate punched the air and high-fived Olympian Jennifer Dodds.
Talking after the visit, William admitted: “It’s harder than it looks.”
Both of them were lovely and willing to curl.
Royal fans gushed over the pair’s competitive streak, and also praised Princess Catherine. Many were in awe to see her take part in the activity following a tough couple of years for the Princess of Wales.
Kate was diagnosed with cancer in 2024 and underwent months of treatment. In January 2025, she announced she was in remission. Since then, she has gradually returned to royal duties whilst prioritising her health.
Praise for Princess of Wales after cancer battle
One person gushed on X: “I’m glad to see PoW Catherine get her physical strength back.”
Another wrote: “The Princess of Wales has always been very sporty. I’m glad to see that she still has that strength and vitality, even after facing such a devastating illness as cancer.”
Someone else added on Instagram: “One thing the Princess of Wales is gonna do is to ensure that it’s done well. She’s been sporty for many decades before life as a royal. Glad to see her back on track and promoting this type of sport.”
Kate and William in Scotland
Meanwhile, curler Bruce Mouat expressed his delight at Kate and William’s visit. He said: “It was wonderful, really nice that they came to wish us good luck for the next month we are about to embark on, both of them were lovely and willing to curl.”
During the visit, William and Catherine also visited Radical Weavers. It’s a weaving studio in Stirling which helps bring people together and offers support to those affected by trauma and loss.
In another moment from the day of engagements, the prince and princess visited The Gothenburg pub in the village of Fallin.
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