Princess Kate has earned glowing praise from one of Britain’s greatest athletes, with Olympic sailor Sir Ben Ainslie describing the royal as “fearless” at the helm of his high-speed racing catamaran.
Speaking at Wimbledon, the four-time Olympic gold medallist revealed that the Princess of Wales confidently steered his F50 catamaran to victory during a race at the Sail Grand Prix in Plymouth in 2022. “Kate was steering, and she was very, very good,” Ainslie told Hello! “This wasn’t just any old boat – this was a catamaran that goes up to 100km per hour – and we won, so she clearly knows what she’s doing.”
He went on to describe the Princess as “an incredible sailor in her own right,” noting that she required no coaching during the high-speed race. “I didn’t need to give her any tips. She had a great feel for the boat and was fearless, from what I could tell.”
Princess Kate, who serves as the royal patron of Ainslie’s 1851 Trust, remains actively involved in the world of British sailing. Despite her responsibilities as a senior working royal and future Queen, Ainslie confirmed that she still checks in regularly with the teams. “She’s busy, but she keeps in touch as much as she can, which is great, and we’re grateful for her support,” he said.
Fellow Olympic sailor Hannah Mills, who sailed alongside the Princess at the same Plymouth event, also spoke warmly about the royal’s presence. “It was very special to have her sail with us,” Mills shared, adding, “I was pregnant at the time, so we were chatting all things bumps and babies, which was really nice.”
The two-time world champion and gold medallist underlined how significant royal backing is to Britain’s sporting community. “Having the royals’ backing spurs you on. Doing any sport and having your home nation supporting you is very special,” Mills said. “It’s always amazing when you’re competing, but when you’ve got certain eyes watching you that you’re not used to in everyday life, it’s pretty wild.”
Both Ainslie and Mills offered these reflections while attending the Wimbledon Championships, where they enjoyed the prestige of the Royal Box. Ainslie, who lives just 500 yards from the grounds, called the experience “one of the most exclusive opportunities in sport.” Mills added, “After winning gold at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, that invitation was the main thing I was waiting for.”