Kate Middleton, the Princess of Wales, has recently revealed a surprising addition to her fitness routine – cold swimming. Despite the chilly waters, she’s become an enthusiast, much to the surprise of her husband, Prince William. This revelation came during a joint appearance with Princess Anne on an episode of The Good, The Bad & The Rugby podcast, hosted by Anne’s son-in-law, Mike Tindall, coinciding with the Rugby World Cup in France.
The royal trio serves as patrons for different rugby unions, with Kate supporting the Welsh Rugby Union, Prince William endorsing the Rugby Football Union of England, and Princess Anne representing the Scottish Rugby Union.
During the podcast, Kate emphasized the significance of staying physically active, a value she has held since her childhood. In addition to her commitment to an active lifestyle, she shared her newfound passion for cold swimming, proclaiming her love for the frigid waters, much to Prince William’s amusement.
Earlier this year, during a visit to Wales, Kate mentioned her choice of attire for post-swim moments. This topic arose when she noticed someone wearing a robe in the rain. Cold water swimming, as noted in a Harvard Public Health article, is believed to offer mental health benefits in addition to physical exercise, although the evidence supporting these claims is mixed.
Kate’s sister, Pippa, is also a swimming enthusiast and has expressed the benefits of swimming, particularly during pregnancy. Additionally, Mike Tindall, the podcast host, shared his own experience with cold swimming, particularly in support of charitable initiatives, having taken a polar plunge for Doddie Aid. This annual challenge aims to raise funds for research on Motor Neuron Disease (MND) and is organized by the My Name’5 Doddie Foundation. This foundation was established by Scottish rugby player Doddie Weir, who sadly passed away in November 2022 after being diagnosed with MND.
Besides cold swimming, Kate maintains her fitness through various activities, including tennis and trampolining with her three children before they head to school. The podcast also delved into her competitive nature. While she playfully denied being competitive, Mike and Princess Anne playfully disagreed.
The discussion also touched on whether their competitiveness had influenced their children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis. Kate remarked that each child has their unique temperament and is exploring different sports as they grow and develop.
Kate and Prince William are known for their friendly competitiveness during various royal outings, participating in activities like spin bike races and sailing contests. In the case of table tennis, they’ve never managed to finish a game, as it becomes a mental challenge between the two of them, each vying to outwit the other. Kate’s embrace of cold swimming provides insight into her commitment to a healthy and active lifestyle, even in the face of icy waters.
