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Kate Middleton Embraces Title Previously Belonging to Brother-in-Law Prince Harry During New Outing

Aside from being a mom and a royal princess, Kate Middleton, 41, is a pretty skilled rugby player. This week, the Princess of Wales paid a visit to the Maidenhead Rugby Club in London, and royal admirers had a chance to see her impressive rugby skills in action. 

On Wednesday, June 7, Princess Catherine participated in a rugby training session organized by the rugby club to promote her early childhood initiative, Shaping Us. During the event, the royal princess had a chance to play a friendly game on the field as the newly appointed patron of the Rugby Football Union—a title that was previously held by the royal’s brother-in-law, Prince Harry

Kate Middleton Playing Rugby CAT
Karwai Tang/WireImage

The Princess of Wales was appointed as the new patron last year. The Duke of Sussex was the patron of the Rugby Football Union (RFU) for five years, stepping up to the role in 2016 after serving as vice-patron.

According to The Daily Mail, Harry, 38, had no choice but to step down from his role as patron after he and his wife, Meghan Markle, 41, relinquished their royal duties in January 2020. 

Meghan Markle Husband Prince Harry CAT
Samir Hussein/Samir Hussein/WireImage

Speaking of the royal duke, Harry arrived in London earlier this week to testify against the Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN) at London’s High Court of the Royal Courts of Justice. (ICYMI: The Duke of Sussex filed the claim back in 2019, accusing news outlets like the Daily Mirror, Daily Express and Sunday Mirror of illegally hacking his phone.) 

Prince Harry undoubtedly made history as the first royal to take the stand in 130 years, with the last being King Edward VII—he served as a witness in a court case back in the 1800s. 

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NEIL MOCKFORD/GC IMAGES

Taking into account how much Catherine loves rugby, the new title couldn’t be more fitting for her.

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