For Kate Middleton, dressing the part for her job as a member of the royal family is essential. She's worn everything from elegant ballgowns, versatile coatdresses, and, let's not forget, hundreds of pairs of high heels. But every once in a while, the Duchess of Cambridge is blessed with a royal outing that doesn't require a wardrobe that comes straight off the haute-couture runway. Sometimes she gets to trade her stilettos for sneakers, and we can tell that Kate's sporty casual looks are among her favorites.
Not everything has to be posh all the time with the royal family! Kate may be an expert at dressing for a formal event, but let it be known that she's a sporty gal, too. In fact, we have a good feeling that she would much rather be working up a sweat with some volleyball players than walking down another red carpet. In the right athleisure outfit, Kate is willing to try just about any outdoor or sporting activity there is, and if her casual ensembles don't show her enthusiasm, then her will-do attitude definitely does.
A Duchess in Joggers
We never thought we'd see any member of the royal family sporting a pair of joggers out in public (even Princess Diana, who wore bike shorts, wasn't that bold), but Kate was the royal to dare to do so. And we have to say, it's definitely a good look for her. And the sneakers certainly beat those heels she has to wear so often! Her feet must be happy.
Beach Gal
Kate certainly looks like one of those ladies who would love a good game of beach volleyball or a jog in the sand. If there's one thing we know about this duchess, it's that she isn't afraid to get in the thick of it when it comes to her outdoor engagements. This was a colder day, though, so she was bundled up for her beach walk.
Ready for the Slopes
Most people may wear a similar puffer coat, winter hat, and snow pants, when they go skiing, but most people do not look like Kate when they are dressed in this type of outfit. Seriously, this woman made an orange puffy winter coat and basic black snow pants look fashionable. How does she do this?? We'd love to know for our own next winter vacay.
In the Jungle
William and Kate look as if they could be starring in Tarzan in this photo, and we are overcome by a strong urge to copy Kate's exact outfit for our next outdoor activity. Kate Middleton — Duchess of Cambridge and of the jungle. We love the tall boots and the decision to wear a white shirt. Bold and chic, yet totally perfect for the occasion.
Sailing Away
Alright, it's time to add boating to Kate's athletic résumé. Not only could she steer the ship, but she also seemed to know to wear a very nautical-themed outfit that day, so she looks all the more ready to take to the seas — hopefully not leaving William behind, though.
Matching From Head to Toe
Even when she's wearing a sporty look, Kate still makes sure everything matches and goes together. She loves a coordinated outfit. It's all those years of dressing up for royal events where your shoes, purse, and fascinator all have to harmonize. There are few people like Kate who can make joggers and a zip-up jacket look like a legit outfit.
Taking Care of Prince George
Keeping up with Prince George is a sport in itself, so naturally Kate needs to have the right outfit on for it. Sure, jeans aren't exactly the most sporty clothing item, but comfort is key when you have a trailblazer like George. Plus, compared with all the fancy dresses the duchess usually wears, jeans must feel like comfy leggings to her.
Volleyball Chic
It's honestly amazing how Kate can make a nontraditional sporty outfit look very sporty just by showing off her insane athletic abilities. Who else could jump and play volleyball in skinny jeans and a blazer, much less a pair of wedges? No one, that's who. The Duchess of Cambridge is truly in a league of her own when it comes to royal sports outings.
Ready for Action
When a royal engagement requires any sort of physical activity, Kate is always ready to do whatever could come her way. We're used to seeing her in heels, but it seems like she always has a pair of tennies nearby so she can hit the field herself. And to think, some people have actually accused the duchess of being lazy. Lazy? Never.
Climbing High
If anyone was wondering if Kate looks good in a helmet, the answer is yes. Side note: Is there anything that this duchess is afraid of? She's ready to play volleyball, sail a boat, and apparently climb super-high trees — all in the name of royal duty! As if we needed more convincing that Kate is a superwoman.
One With the Kids
Kate just lights up whenever she is around children, especially if she gets to hang out with them during her royal engagements. Her kid-related events also tend to be more casual, so she can throw on a sporty outfit like jeans, a sweater, and sneakers. This royal lady was most certainly born to be a mother running around with her little ones!
Lessons Coming in Handy
It's a pretty well-known fact that the Cambridges are big fans of watching and playing tennis, and Kate and William have even put their kids in tennis lessons already. Looks as if those lessons came in handy during this royal outing, where Kate got to swing a racket on the court. Her form looked great, and so did her sporty outfit.
Safety First
Kate may be an adventurous royal woman, but she's not going to sacrifice her safety. She was sure to don a life jacket during a water outing a few years ago. How she manages to make a bulky life jacket look so stylish, we'll never know. We hope she took out her earrings before she hit the water, though. Don't want to be losing those diamonds.
She Wants To Go Fast
So let's think about this: When it comes to sports, Kate has tackled tennis, volleyball, sailing, and now racing? It's official — we aren't even going to try to keep up with this duchess. There's just no use! Also, even with her hair blown about by the wind and dressed in coveralls, she looks amazing. This could be an ad for racing.
Tennis Pro
We're used to seeing Kate in formal skirts, but tennis skirts not as much. In addition to sometimes wearing joggers to play, Kate also has some traditional tennis wear. She threw on white sneakers, a zip-up navy jacket, and a navy and white sports skirt for a recent athletic royal outing.
Training Away
Recently, the duchess joined the Air Cadets at their training center to get a feel for what they go through during their daily drills. While there, Kate had a chance to rappel down a mountain, ride her bike through the wilderness, and look amazing in her olive green puffer jacket, jeans, and hiking boots. Her casual style just never disappoints.
Hitting Golf Balls
Golf was invented in Scotland, so it was only fitting that Kate and William would try out the sport while visiting the country on a recent royal tour. To fit the sporty theme of the day, Kate went with a zip-up, jeans, and heavy-duty boots. She probably wouldn't be allowed to wear that on a regular course, though.
Land Yachting
We know that the duchess likes to sail in the water, but how about on land? During the same trip to Scotland, William and Kate both gave land yachting a try. It uses sail technology paired with a kind of bike/go-kart situation to bring the sport to people who don't necessarily live near the water. In her cute yellow helmet, Kate looked like she was having a total blast.
Cricket Time
Speaking of playing sports while on royal tours, Kate has given cricket a try during a fair number of her trips — including when she visited India and Pakistan. And though she's played in heels before, she went a little more casual with this look, throwing on a traditional-style kurta, pants, and canvas sneakers.
Eye on the Ball
Perhaps Kate's cricket expertise helped her when playing a similar sport in Ireland when she and William gave hurling a try. It has similar traits to soccer, but is also played with a stick like cricket or lacrosse. In real games, a helmet and face mask are necessary to avoid injuries, but Kate just wore pants, a sweater, and sneakers.
The Duchess in Shorts
It's not totally out-there to see a royal woman in shorts — Princess Diana used to wear them to the gym all the time. But it is out-there to see Kate in the clothing item. In all her time as a royal, we've only seen her in shorts this one time — and probably only because it was hot out and she was about to go sailing.
Rope Swing
A couple of years ago, Kate got to help develop a "Back to Nature" garden exhibition at the Chelsea Flower Show. In addition to including a ton of gorgeous plants and flowers, she also had a rope swing installed — which she of course had to try out for herself. Good thing she wasn't wearing one of her stiff coatdresses that day!
Catching Tadpoles
If you're going to muck about in the water to catch tadpoles with a bunch of excited children, you better be wearing something casual. The duchess opted for a sporty jacket, pants, sneakers, and a ponytail to keep her hair out of her eyes. She did a lot of kneeling on this day, so the jeans were definitely a smart choice.
Kicking the Ball Around
Soccer — or as they call it in England, football — is a big sport in the Cambridge household, so we're not that surprised that Kate's got a decent kick in her. She got to show off her footie skills during an event for the Sport Uniting Communities initiative. Look at her go for it!
Ready for a Run
Look, would we race around a track in a long-sleeved shirt and wide-legged pants? No, probably not. But for someone who wears tiaras, high heels, and fancy gowns all the time, this particular outfit probably felt pretty darn sporty to the duchess. It's all about that perspective, you know? Ready to run a marathon next, Kate?
