Kate Middleton isn't just a natural beauty, she's also super in shape — and she works hard to be that way. Her reported diet and exercise regimen is simple. She eats junk food in moderation, so she's not depriving herself of anything, and she works out. That's pretty much it. Since she's a busy royal and mom without a ton of time to dedicate to the gym, the Duchess of Cambridge reportedly tries to double up on her exercises by using weights while running or doing combo moves like squats with lunges.
The end result? She looks amazing, and her arms in particular are so toned. She doesn't show them off all that often, but when she does, everyone takes note. Here are 15 times Kate stunned in sleeveless or strappy dresses that showed off her gorgeous guns.
Pre-Royal Days
You would never see Kate Middleton, future queen, in an outfit like this now. But before she married Prince William, it was a lot easier for her to get away with something like a midriff-baring tank top and low-rise jeans. Also on display here? Her super toned arms. Kate's been in great shape pretty much her whole life.
Row, Row, Row
Kate works hard for her rockin' bod. She's incredibly athletic, having played everything from field hockey to cricket in her lifetime. She also loves competitive rowing, which definitely has contributed to her upper body strength and svelte arms. Even today, she tends to prefer sports like sailing or rowing that get her out on the water.
Night Out
Now that she's a member of the royal family, Kate doesn't bare her arms as much as she used to. Before she married William, she wasn't as concerned with keeping up monarchy appearances as she was just being young and having fun. For a night out in the city, she wore this cute sleeveless dress that showed off her tanned and toned arms and legs.
Derby Girl
Pre-royal wedding, Kate once even participated in a roller skating derby. We love her '80s throwback outfit with the pink leg warmers, and she's wearing shorts! But her arms were really a focus in her green disco halter top. The event was for charity, which makes it even cooler. She was doing royal-like activities long before her marriage — although we probably wouldn't ever see any of the other royal ladies at a roller disco. Maybe Princess Di.
Strapless Top
At one of her first royal events post-wedding, Kate showed up in a black strapless dress for the Sun Military Awards in late 2011. Just look at William in this photo. Probably all he can focus on is how good Kate (and her arms!) look in the gown. It was a very Princess Diana move of her, because Prince Charles' wife also wore a black strapless dress to one of her own first royal events.
Sleeveless Summertime
When watching one of the outdoor events at the 2012 Olympics, Kate opted for a sleeveless shirt and short skirt. The Games took place between July and August that year, so it was hot out! We don't blame her at all for not wanting to cover up. She looks cute, stylish, and comfy in this all-white ensemble.
Royal Beauty
At her first solo royal event, Kate wore a strappy dress that highlighted her svelte arms. We're sure that whatever she was talking to these people about was important, but we wouldn't blame them if all they could focus on was what Kate's workout routine might be. Also, she looks extra tall here. Just a total royal beauty.
Formal Dinner
The Duchess of Cambridge brought her amazing arms to Canada during a royal tour of the country. While William was all buttoned up in a suit, Kate went with a sleeveless red dress with a asymmetrical neckline adorned with a maple leaf pin in a nod to the nation's flag. And by putting her hair up, she could really show off her arms without any distractions.
Short Sleeves at Wimbledon
Kate got to hand out the awards at the 2019 Wimbledon tennis tournament, and she picked the perfect dress for the occasion. The short sleeves allowed her to flaunt her toned arms when lifting and presenting the trophies, but she still looked totally put together and modest in front of the large crowd of fans. Nailed it!
The One-Shoulder Gown
Just like any celebrity, Kate Middleton always brings her A-game to any red carpet event she attends. Some of her best gowns have been worn to awards ceremonies. This gorgeous white dress for the 2019 British Academy Film Awards is an Alexander McQueen piece, and we just love the one-shoulder style. It shows a little skin while keeping it classy.
Her Arms Go Perfectly With a Tiara
What's the best accessory next to super toned arms? A tiara, of course! Fortunately for her, Kate gets to have both. This blue dress is another Alexander McQueen piece, because Kate loves to repeat designers. She wore the ensemble for a state dinner honoring King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima of the Netherlands.
Off-the-Shoulder
Here's the duchess again, slaying it on the red carpet in a — you guessed it — Alexander McQueen design. She's worn this look a couple of times, but she had it modified from the original. The initial design had shoulder straps, but Kate had to changed to this chic off-the-shoulder design. And then when she rewore it, she had it modified again to have sleeves.
Heavy Lifting
We're not sure what this dress was made from, but considering that when Kate lifted it to walk, her arms looked like this — it must have been heavy! Or maybe she was just flexing in the sleeveless gown to display all her hard work in the gym. Who could blame her? Arms like this deserve to be seen and admired.
Cute Cap Sleeves
Most often, when Kate wears a short-sleeved dress, she still keeps the sleeves relatively long. Sometimes the sleeves will even go to her elbows. Perhaps that's a modesty preference or just a style thing. But the cute cap sleeves on this red dress showed off her arms as she waved to a crowd of fans.
Raise a Glass
We doubt this glass of wine was heavy, but giving the toast at an event on her Polish tour offered Kate a chance to flaunt her arms again. She likely works hard to stay in great shape, and she deserves to show as much as she wants. She won't, because that's not her style, but a sleeveless dress here and there does just the trick.
