The Princess of Wales praised the Red Roses rugby team for ushering in a new generation of girls to the sport at a Windsor Castle reception on Thursday, and revealed her own rugby tip: don’t get tackled by Prince George!
Catherine, who serves as patron of the Rugby Football Union and the Rugby Football League, hosted a reception for the newly-minted Women’s Rugby World Cup champions, praised the Red Roses for helping to usher in a new generation of girls in the sport who “perhaps might not even have thought rugby was for them.”
She added: “I think it really showed how accessible rugby is to so many types of girls in different parts of the country.”
The mother of three also spoke of how the Wales family enjoys playing rugby at school and at home.
“Rugby is so accessible,” she said. “[Prince] Louis is playing touch rugby, and it’s such a great game.”
Catherine said that her sons, Prince George and Prince Louis, are both playing at school while Princess Charlotte is only playing at home right now because there’s no girls league through school.
Catherine said that separate teams for boys and girls shouldn’t necessarily matter for younger children, but when they age and get physically stronger, it should matter more. “George now, if we play at home, I do not want to get tackled by George! But, up to a certain age I think it’s great.”
The members of the Red Roses showed the Princess of Wales a scrapbook of memories of the Women’s Rugby World Cup and brought her a signed jersey and a medal as a gift. Before departing, they all posed for a team photo, with Catherine, in a scarlet pant suit, sitting front and centre next to the trophy.
Afterwards, Kensington Palace shared the team photo with Catherine on social media, writing: “A great day hosting Women’s Rugby World Cup winners the Red Roses today at Windsor! Congratulations to you all – what an achievement!”
The Red Roses won the Women’s Rugby World Cup against Canada in September 2025, their third win after championships in 1994 and 2014.
