The Princess of Wales has revealed the surprising and unusual way she keeps fit - and how she "squeezes" workouts into her schedule.
It came as Kate, patron of the Rugby Football League, hosted a reception for the team at Hampton Court Palace today to mark their victory in November’s World Cup, which was England’s first since the inaugural competition in 2008.
At the reception, she told how she, husband Prince William and their three children had watched the final on television, in which England narrowly defeated France 28-24.
She laughed as she told the England team: "You've set the bar high, haven't you? Which is good."
Asked whether her children were interested in rugby, she said: "We’re always slightly competitive with each other. They all love sport and Louis is mad about rugby. They are at an age where they just love running around."
The princess then divulged her own fitness schedule and added: "I do it all: whenever I can squeeze in exercise I do, even jumping on the trampoline with the children before school."
Kate then beamed as the players invited her and her family to join them in training.
"I’d love to come and play," she said. "There’s no excuse now. We’re going to have to have a family training session."
Kate, who took over Prince Harry's former role as England’s rugby league patron in February last year, spoke to players, their partners and the coaching staff in the palace’s garden room before posing with the World Cup trophy.
She then joined the full team for a squad photograph, saying: "I’m really proud and really grateful we got this opportunity, and best of luck for the training and the season and I promise I’m going to come and see you for some games."
Head coach Tom Coyd said Kate told him that Prince Louis in particular was a fan of the sport.
He explained: "She said Louis is doing tag rugby at school. She was saying that it is quite basic at the minute, that he is just getting to grips with the passing and the running around.
"But when you are four-and-a-half you just want to get the ball and run in any direction.
"She actually said that he recognised quite a lot of the crossover with the rugby that he is doing because in tag rugby you have tags on your hips and in our sport, we have tags on our shoulders.
"I just think she and her family connected really well."
Coyd added: "She said it would be great for us to go and do an engagement session at the school where her children attend."
