The Princess of Wales has personally celebrated the historic victory of the England Women's rugby team, hosting the Red Roses at Windsor Castle and revealing her own children, including Prince George, are enthusiastic players at home.
A Royal Celebration for World Champions
Kate, who is patron of the Rugby Football Union (RFU), welcomed the squad to the historic royal residence on Thursday 15 January 2026. She hailed their "amazing achievement" after they won the Rugby World Cup the previous autumn. The future queen told senior RFU officials that it was "really nice to mark the beginning of the year with a celebration."
Addressing the players directly, the Princess said they had "inspired all the new generation" who might not have previously considered rugby was for them. "I think it really showed how accessible rugby is to so many types of girls, in different parts of the country," she added.
Royal Children Embrace the Sport
In a charming and relatable admission, Kate shared details of her family's home life with the sporting stars. She confirmed that her daughter, Princess Charlotte, plays rugby within the family, while her youngest, Prince Louis, enjoys touch rugby.
The most notable revelation came regarding her eldest son. "George now, if we play at home, I do not want to get tackled by George," the Princess joked, highlighting the young prince's growing physicality. She expressed a balanced view on children's sports, noting, "They shouldn’t necessarily need to push boys and girls in particular sports too early... but, up to a certain age I think it’s great."
Inspiring a Record-Breaking Victory
The royal event honoured a monumental sporting triumph. The Red Roses secured their third World Cup title by defeating Canada 33-13 in the final. The match was played in front of a record crowd of 81,885 spectators at a sold-out Twickenham, cementing the team's legacy following previous wins in 2014 and 1994.
Kate had followed the team's campaign closely, attending a pool match in Brighton where she watched them beat Australia from the stands. She later joined the players for a celebratory sing-song in the changing rooms, where Sports Personality of the Year nominee Ellie Kildunne recalled the Princess joining in a "cowboy lasso dance" after joking about the hat she wore.
The guest list at Windsor included captain Zoe Stratford, double World Cup winner Marlie Packer, and head coach John Mitchell—all recently made OBEs. They were joined by vice-captain Megan Jones and standout back row Sadia Kabeya, who were both appointed MBEs in the New Year Honours.
