Princess Kate Reveals Her Latest Sporty Hobby —And It's Definitely Not Wimbledon-Approved

Princess Kate stepped out in a new Self-Portrait blazer dress at a Buckingham Palace garden party on Friday, May 8, and she also revealed her latest sports obsession while chatting with guests.

In a post shared by the Daily Mail’s royal editor, Rebecca English, on her Instagram Story, the journalist wrote that the Princess of Wales “revealed she has taken up padel.”

The activity, which is similar to tennis and pickleball, but uses walls, is considered the fastest-growing sport in the world at the moment, so it’s no surprise that athletic Kate has got in on the trend. English wrote that Princess Kate told guests “it was a great game for non-tennis players (although that is her preferred sport).”

Princess Kate also shared that she “even plays with her parents, Michael and Carole Middleton.”

As patron of the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, Princess Kate's choice to play padel is a slightly controversial one, as many tennis purists aren't fans of padel's recent domination.

Even tennis superstar Novak Djokovic has spoken out on how the sport could threaten tennis, noting, “If we don’t do something about it, as I said, globally or collectively, padel, pickleball in [the] States, they’re going to convert all the tennis clubs into padel and pickleball because it’s just more economical” (via the Guardian).

Along with chatting about racket sports, the Princess of Wales shared some meaningful conversations with guests at the party, who were all invited because of their contributions to British society. One such attendee was dance teacher Leanne Lucas, who met the Prince and Princess of Wales after the tragic stabbing deaths of three children during a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in Southport, England.

Lucas helped shield children from the knife-wielding attacker during the incident, and according to the Daily Mirror's royal editor, Russell Myers, the dance teacher said “it was like meeting old friends again.”

In his Instagram post, Myers continued that Lucas, who spoke with both William and Kate at the garden party, admitted she “was in such a dark place last time we met.” However, the Princess of Wales was encouraged by the progress that Lucas has made.

Princess Kate placed a hand on her shoulder in one photo from the party, and Lucas said, “Last time I met (the Princess), I was quite down, so she just said she was so happy to see me full of energy and passion and enthusiasm again and it’s so nice to see you back to the way that you should be and the way that you were before.”