Prince William reveals Princess Charlotte's new hobby - and it's one she shares with her mother Kate Middleton

Daily Mail​

14-05-2025

Princess Charlotte appears to have found a role model in British Olympic gold medallist Keely Hodgkinson as her father, the Prince of Wales, revealed she is a keen runner.
Speaking as Hodgkinson, 23, received an MBE at Windsor Castle yesterday, Prince William told her that Princess Charlotte, 10, watched her win gold at the women's 800m at the Paris Olympics last year.
The athlete later revealed that the Prince, 42, also shared that Charlotte, who recently celebrated her 10th birthday, is currently training for the 400m 'at the minute and the hurdles'.
During their exchange at Tuesday's investiture ceremony, William also told Hodgkinson that 'he wished he could be there' to watch her take gold in person.
'He told me that he remembers me winning and that he wished he could be there to see it himself,' the Manchester-born Olympian told PA.
Charlotte's fondness for running should come as no surprise considering her mother, the Princess of Wales is just as passionate about the sport.
Speaking to The Telegraph last October, Mike Tindall shared Catherine, 42, 'loves her running' while Prince George takes after his father, Prince William, and 'loves his football'.
Mike, who is married to King Charles's niece Zara, told the newspaper: 'George loves his football. I've played numerous times in the garden with him.'
Referring to Prince William's boyhood football club, the 45-year-old broadcaster added: 'He's passionate about Aston Villa, too. Wherever he is, he'll sit down and watch that game.'
'They're just a family who love sport,' he continued.
It comes after a body language expert offered insight into Princess Catherine's bond with her daughter Charlotte.
Judi James described the royal mother-daughter duo as a 'swan-style double act' effortlessly gliding through public appearances while 'paddling hard beneath the water line to make it all look so easy and natural'.
Analysing their dynamic for MailOnline, James highlighted how Charlotte often mirrors her mother, inheriting her ability to 'pull off the pose' for the cameras.
'The little girl who, like any child, could once throw the occasional public tantrum has transformed,' Judi observes.
'Now, her body language suggests that any taste for drama has been replaced by a much more mature awareness of "getting it right" while supporting her mother.'
In recent years, Charlotte has become a regular presence at key royal events, including Sandringham Christmas, Easter Sunday and Trooping the Colour.
Her natural sense of responsibility was particularly evident at last year's Trooping the Colour, when Kate, in her first public appearance since announcing her cancer diagnosis, attempted to clear condensation from the carriage window.
Charlotte, without hesitation, calmly took over the task.
Her natural sense of responsibility was particularly evident at last year's Trooping the Colour, when Kate, in her first public appearance since announcing her cancer diagnosis, attempted to clear condensation from the carriage window.
Charlotte, without hesitation, calmly took over the task.
Kate's maternal gestures - such as stroking and smoothing her daughter's hair - remain, but as Judi notes, 'these increasingly look like reward gestures for a job well done, rather than soothing rituals to calm and reassure'.
Charlotte's keen sense of awareness and empathy has only deepened in light of her mother's illness.
'Her Kate-like poses, with sustained royal smiles or gentle head tilts, helped deflect camera attention away from her mother,' Judi explains.
At yesterday's investiture ceremony, Hodgkinson was made MBE after winning gold at the track event at last year's Paris Olympics - making her the first British track and field star to win Olympic gold since Sir Mo Farah back in 2016.
The 23-year-old was named on the New Year's Honours list following her astonishing year, which had also seen her defend her European title.
Hodgkinson was pictured in conversation and laughing with Prince William as she received her gong at Windsor Castle, making it the latest feather in her cap.
Hodgkinson, who was crowned BBC Sports Personality of the Year back in December.
Hodgkinson's triumph in Paris last year saw her upgrade from her silver medal at the Tokyo Olympics.
She became just the third British woman to claim the 800m Olympic title after Ann Packer and Kelly Holmes.
Hodgkinson has yet to race since winning gold last year, after tearing her hamstring in February.
The injury ruled her out of her own Keely Klassic event, as well as the European and World Indoor Championships.
Mail Sport revealed last month that Hodgkinson is set to make her comeback at the Stockholm Diamond League meeting in June.
Hodgkinson's main priority this season is winning gold at the World Championships in Tokyo. She has never tasted victory at the event having picked up silvers in 2022 and 2023.
Other sportspersons honoured at yesterday's investiture led by the Prince of Wales included former Formular One driver-turned-broadcaster Martin Brundle, who received his OBE.