Catherine, Princess of Wales has revealed that padel is the latest sport added to her active lifestyle, sharing that she regularly plays the game with her parents.
The Princess of Wales, 44, spoke about her love for the fast-growing racquet sport during a Buckingham Palace garden party on Friday, where she met representatives from the Lawn Tennis Association.
While chatting with guests at the event, Kate described padel as a “great leveller” for people who may not play tennis regularly.
“I love padel. It’s such a good game,” she said.
“It’s so sociable, and all generations can play — I play with my parents,” she added, referring to Carole Middleton, 71, and Michael Middleton, 76.
Padel, often described as a mix between tennis and squash, is usually played in doubles on an enclosed court and has seen a surge in popularity around the world in recent years.
Kate’s interest in the sport comes as no surprise given her long-standing passion for fitness and athletics. Before becoming a royal, she captained the field hockey team at Marlborough College and has also spoken openly about enjoying activities such as cold-water swimming.
The princess is also well known for her love of tennis and is a regular attendee at The Championships, Wimbledon. She serves as patron of the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club and is said to be highly competitive on the court, even reportedly beating Prince William during matches.
Her latest comments about playing padel with her parents have also drawn attention online, with many praising the close bond she shares with her family and the reminder that sport can often become a simple way for different generations to stay connected.