Princess Kate welcomed England’s Rugby World Cup champions, the Red Roses, to Windsor Castle, dressed entirely in scarlet for the occasion.
The party celebrated their victory last September at Twickenham, where they crushed Canada 33-13 in front of over 81,000 spectators. But the highlight wasn’t the official event itself, but what Ellie Kildunne, one of the star players, revealed afterward.
It turns out that Kate, who inherited the patronage of the Rugby Football Union after it was taken from Harry, not only attended their game in Brighton last year. She also entered the locker room after the game, donned a cowboy hat, and joined the players in their celebratory “lasso dance” to commemorate their victories.
Kate Middleton, at 44, is clearly thriving as a patron of the sport. During the reception, she spoke with the players and told them they had inspired a new generation of girls who might never have thought rugby was for them.
The girls asked her if her children play, and she revealed that Charlotte plays rugby at home with the family, though not yet at school, and that Louis is already playing touch rugby. Regarding George, she jokingly mentioned that he’s now so strong she no longer wants him to tackle her during home games.
This is England’s third World Cup victory, following those in 2014 and 1994. The Red Roses arrived at the event wearing their medals, fresh from a party the night before at the Grosvenor Hotel in London.
Kate made it clear to them that this New Year’s celebration was important because it marked an incredible achievement. But what truly resonated with the players was her willingness to step down from her royal pedestal and don a silly hat to join them in the ribbon dance.