Royal Rivalry on Ice: William and Kate's Curling Clash in Stirling
The Prince and Princess of Wales demonstrated their competitive edge during a royal engagement in Stirling, where they participated in a curling masterclass led by Team GB Olympians. Visiting the National Curling Academy, the royal couple, known as the Duke and Duchess of Rothesay in Scotland, offered their support to Team GB and Paralympics GB curling teams ahead of the 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Milano-Cortina.
A Historic Sport with Modern Champions
Curling, a sport with origins dating back to the 16th century, involves players sliding stones across ice towards a target area. It has become one of Team GB and Paralympics GB's most successful winter disciplines, having secured six Olympic medals and two Paralympic medals to date. The state-of-the-art training centre, which opened in August 2017, has revolutionised British curling by providing year-round access to high-quality ice, a facility previously unavailable in the UK.
Learning the Ropes from Olympic Experts
Under the guidance of skips Bruce Mouat and Jennifer Dodds, William and Kate received a five-minute demonstration on the fundamentals of curling. The instruction covered how to push off from the rubber hack—a foothold in the ice—and utilise slippery soles to propel themselves forward. After practising lunge motions, the princess initially hesitated, encouraging her husband to take the first attempt.
"You can go first," Kate told William, to which he replied, "Are you sure? It won't make a difference." Confidently, the prince slid off with a stone, remarking, "Here we go, let's see what happens." He later laughed, noting, "It's not going very fast," but Mouat reassured him that sweepers typically assist stones in reaching the house, the target at the end of the ice strip.
Kate's Tentative Start and Triumphant Finish
Kate then cautiously stepped onto the 45-metre-long sheet, holding onto William's arm for balance. Adjusting her long skirt and tucking her hair behind her ear, she prepared for her turn. William offered encouragement, saying, "Just lean on both, Catherine," referring to the red stone and delivery stick used by beginners. Her initial push resulted in a loss of balance, and in the commotion, she forgot to release the stone. "Come on," she said, managing only a few metres before pushing the stone forward.
Eager to improve, Kate requested another attempt, leading to a head-to-head challenge organised by Nigel Holl, executive performance director of British curling. Each royal was assisted by two sweepers, with the objective of getting closest to the button, the centre of the house. "No pressure, guys," William quipped with a laugh.
William started confidently, with Kate praising his effort as his stone landed on the outer blue ring. "Good sweeping," he told Rebecca Morrison and Grant Hardie, who used brooms to increase the stone's speed. Determined to outperform her husband, Kate focused on her technique. After successfully throwing her stone, she watched anxiously as it was swept, urging, "Come on, come on, keep going." When it stopped perfectly in the middle, she celebrated with a high-five to Dodds and a triumphant fist pump in the air.
Delayed Arrival and Public Engagements
The royal couple arrived 35 minutes later than scheduled, having paused to admire The Kelpies in Falkirk—striking 30-metre-tall steel horse-head sculptures that symbolise Scotland's heritage and industrial prowess. They posed for photographs in front of these iconic structures before proceeding to the curling centre.
Upon arrival, William and Kate were greeted by cheers from the public, stopping to shake hands and take selfies with well-wishers. Inside the facility, which also houses a swimming pool, gym, sports hall, and climbing wall, Kate changed out of her heeled boots and removed her blue tartan coat. The couple then engaged with members of the Women's, Men's, and Paralympic Team GB curling squads.
Inspiring Conversations with Athletes
Captivated by the ongoing play on four rinks, Kate inquired about the athletes' readiness for the upcoming Olympics, asking, "Do you feel ready for this moment after so much training?" While speaking with Mouat's team, they learned about the narrow gold medal loss to Sweden in the 2022 Beijing Games. Kate encouraged them, saying, "One better this year."
The couple also explored wheelchair curling adaptations, surprised to discover that no sweepers are involved. Jo Butterfield, a Rio 2016 gold medallist in club throw who switched to wheelchair curling in 2023, shared her ambition to become the first British athlete to win gold at both summer and winter Paralympic Games. Her partner, Jason Kean, eagerly requested a photo with the royals, prompting William to joke, "Come back a bit, Jason, otherwise I'll slip on the ice!"
In a touching moment, Hugh Nibloe, the only squad member with prior Paralympic Winter Games experience, revealed he shares a birthday with Kate, leading to a warm hug from the princess.
Raising the Profile of Curling
As they departed, William and Kate continued to interact with fans, despite running behind schedule. The prince repeatedly shared their newfound appreciation for the sport, stating, "It's harder than it looks. If you don't have a sweeper, you've got no chance!" Rebecca Morrison, a first-time Olympian, expressed her honour in meeting the royals, hoping their visit would elevate curling's visibility. "You just don't get opportunities like that," she said. "For us to be chosen as a sport that they came and visited was just amazing. They were so lovely to speak to and they were brilliant at curling."
The visit underscored the royal couple's support for British athletes and highlighted curling's significance as a medal-winning sport for Team GB, with the academy playing a pivotal role in sustaining the nation's competitive edge on the international stage.
