Kate Middleton wasn't born royal, but she's certainly a natural at the job. Over the years, the Duchess of Cambridge has done countless engagements and official visits on behalf of the Crown, and she's never put a foot wrong. It's no wonder she's become such a tremendous asset to Queen Elizabeth. No matter the occasion, she carries out her role flawlessly, and the public adores her.
And the job of a working royal isn't just about showing up, shaking hands, and posing for pictures — they're expected to be active participants. Quite often, the royals are visiting businesses, and the staff love to invite them to try out their trades — whether it's making pottery or feeding farm animals. That's what leads to those great royal photo opps, after all. Who doesn't get a kick out of seeing future king Prince William attempting to drive a giant tractor, or Kate pulling pints at a pub?
But while some of the other royals can seem a bit stiff and uncomfortable doing the things that are thrown at them during their many engagements (we're looking at you, Prince Charles), Kate looks like a total natural in any situation she's in. Her fun-loving, adventurous spirit makes her willing to do just about anything in the name of royal duty, and she always does it with a smile and plenty of enthusiasm — even if it means having to play sports in heels or get a little dirty. There's nothing she won't try and no challenge she won't take on.
Here are 15 moments when Kate proved she's down for anything — and won us all over in the process.
Outdoor Fun
During a visit to the Windermere Adventure Training Center in September 2021, Kate didn't hesitate to jump right into the action with the young Royal Air Force Air Cadets. She joined the group for some mountain biking through the rugged terrain and then tried her hand at abseiling. And according to one cadet, Kate was totally fearless in the face of the vertical drop — and she gently encouraged him to be brave too.
"She was about to abseil and I was next in line, so she asked me if I wanted to go before her. I was a bit scared so I said no. She said if I did, she would meet me down there," 13-year-old Itelouwa Odipe recounted to the Daily Mail.
Setting Sail
In May 2021, Kate looked totally in her element when she and Prince William returned to St. Andrews in Scotland (where they first met 20 years ago as university students) and had an opportunity to try out land yachting. The two even raced each other across the sand, and it's clear from Kate's determined face that she was not going to be beaten by her husband. Has she met a sport she's not a natural at?
Good Aim
If Kate had been a royal in medieval times — when castle invaders were a real threat — her skills with a bow and arrow would have come in clutch. Archery is the national sport in Bhutan, so naturally, Kate had to have a go at it when she visited the country in 2016. And she did it in stiletto heels, no less!
Making Music
Kate can add DJ to her royal résumé. Among her many talents, apparently she's also got an ear for music. While visiting Scotland in May 2021, the Cambridges stopped by a community interest company called Heavy Sound, where Kate was invited to try her hand at sound mixing. And as always, she threw herself into the challenge with enthusiasm — even if William was less than impressed with the results. "Please turn that off. It's hurting my ears," he quipped.
Pulling Pints
During a trip to Ireland in 2019, Kate and William stepped out for an evening party at the Empire Music Hall in Belfast. Kate looked as glamorous as ever in a glittery metallic knit Missoni gown — but she didn't let her fine clothes stop her from jumping behind the bar to work the taps. As the crowd looked on, she pulled a perfect pint — look how hard she's concentrating to get it just right. Maybe it had something to do with the fact that when William took a turn before her, he declared his pour "good enough for an advert." These two do seem to love a little friendly competition now and then.
Planting a Garden
Kate's such a good sport that she's even willing to get her hands dirty for a good cause. Here, she's pictured helping to plant a garden for Each Hospices during Children's Hospice Week in June 2020. She's handling that soil with a smile on her face, totally unbothered that she might be messing up her perfect manicure — and that she's wearing a priceless sapphire and diamond ring. Talk about dedication to the job!
Bagel Making
The global health crisis hit small businesses hard — especially the food industry. But what better way for a bakery to boost sales than to have a future king and queen making its bagels. Kate and William donned aprons and pitched in at Beigel Bake in London one morning in 2020, kneading dough like total pros. And of course, Kate did it without getting so much as a smudge of flour on herself. Is she even human?
Making Friends
Kate charms everyone wherever she goes — and that includes animals, it seems. When she visited a farm in Gloucestershire in 2017, the baby sheep warmed right up to her. And once again, Kate proved she has no airs about her. She knelt right down on the grass and fed the lamb a bottle of milk. She's just as at home on a humble farm as she is in a gilded palace.
Wild Side
While we may have been impressed by Kate's lamb-feeding skills, she'd already been there, done that — only on a much bigger scale. During a visit to a wildlife conservation center in India in 2016, she got to feed baby elephants and rhinoceroses, and from her huge grin, it's clear she loved every moment of the experience. She really is game for anything.
Spider Bonding
Kate's love for animals even includes spiders. While most of us like to keep a safe distance from the eight-legged critters, the duchess actually asked if she could hold a tarantula that was part of a mobile zoo she and William visited while at Ulster University in September. Just look at how happy the arachnid encounter made her (meanwhile, William's wincing in the background). Turns out, Kate and her daughter, Charlotte, enjoy hunting for spiders together at home. And once again, the duchess' down-for-anything attitude resulted in another iconic photo for the royal history books.
Taking Flight
Seriously, is there anything the Duchess of Cambridge can't do? William may be the pilot in the family, but Kate looked pretty steady-handed at the controls when she had a chance to try out a flight simulator in 2017. Her level of focus and concentration is impressive. No matter what her royal engagements throw at her, she gives her all.
Hair Scare
Kate wouldn't be Kate without her bouncy blowouts. But she is so committed to her job and loves kids so much that she risked a bad hair day during a little nature play with a group of scouts in 2019. While she and a young girl hung out inside a fort made of branches and leaves, some of the other scouts poured water on top of it. "It's very waterproof in here," Kate joked, as she covered her hair with her hand.
In the Swing
In 2019, Kate designed a children's garden installation as part of the annual Chelsea Flower Show. Her imaginative vision for the woodland-inspired design included a treehouse, a waterfall, and a stream. Once the garden was finished, Kate tested out the rope swing — she wasn't about to let the kids have all the fun. We can't imagine many of the other royals ever doing something as casual and spontaneous as this, but that's what makes Kate so special.
Well Plated
Kate had to roll up her sleeves for this one — things were getting serious. During a visit to the Emma Bridgewater pottery studio in 2015, the duchess got a crash course in plate making. Look how proud she is when she manages to slap that piece of clay on the mold like a seasoned pro! This looks like the kind of activity her kids would love to join in on, too.
Getting in the Game
If you're still not convinced that Kate is willing to do just about anything in the name of royal duty, maybe this photo will finally sway you. Wearing skinny jeans and wedge heels, the duchess was hardly dressed for a lively volleyball match on this day in 2013 — but she jumped right into the action nonetheless. In fact, she got so caught up in the game that she made the uncharacteristic move of momentarily baring her midriff. She just had to get that shot, even if it meant having her shirt lift up for everyone to see.
