Kate and William visited the National Curling Academy in Stirling to wish the British team good luck ahead of the Winter Olympics, which begin next month in Milano-Cortina.
But they didn’t just go to pose for the photos. The two of them tried curling for the first time, a 16th-century Scottish sport where you slide stones on ice towards concentric circles.
Kate literally ended up on the ground, not because she fell, but because that’s how the game is played, and the excitement on her face said it all.
William went first after Kate said, “You can go first,” and he replied, “Are you sure?” It won’t make a difference. He was certainly confident. When it was Kate’s turn, she grabbed her husband’s arm before stepping onto the ice, and immediately lost her balance on her first attempt.
Laughing, she regained control but forgot to release the stone. She asked for a second chance, and Nigel Holl, the executive director of British Curling, decided it was better for them to compete against each other. Kate positioned herself with determination, clearly ready to outperform William.
Her stone glided perfectly towards the center as she shouted, “Come on, come on, keep going!” When she landed right on the center button, Kate high-fived Olympic medalist Eve Muirhead and celebrated with a raised fist.
William applauded from the sidelines, taking his defeat with good humor. They then told the children present that “it’s harder than it looks,” and Bruce Mouat from the men’s team commented that both were charming.
Kate continues to appear increasingly at ease at these events. Since her cancer diagnosis, she has prioritized personal moments over rigid protocol.