When Prince William and Princess Catherine get the chance to go head-to-head in any sort of sporting competition, they rarely let it pass by! Royal fans delight in watching the future king and queen embrace their competitive sides. However, they don’t always hold back when one manages to come out on top, adding some fun rivalry to the mix.
Both athletic and sporty, the pair have publicly faced off in a wide array of challenges over the years—from spinning classes to selling competitions. Their spirited rivalry even extends to lighthearted cake-decorating and pancake-flipping battles. While their competitive antics frequently amuse onlookers, one particular occasion had royal fans in stitches as Catherine showed her witty side.
Earlier this year, increased media attention surrounded the family after Princess Catherine took a step back from public appearances due to health concerns. In her absence, fans have cherished and shared memorable moments of the royal couple. One such memory is from their 2015 visit to Portsmouth, where they met Sir Ben Ainslie, a four-time Olympic sailing gold medalist, during the British leg of the America's Cup World Series. A video from that day, which has garnered over 224,000 views and 21,000 likes, features several playful clips of William’s protectiveness as Catherine interacted with Ainslie. "He's so silly; him being overprotective is my favorite thing," one fan captioned the video.
Another memorable moment from 2015 took place during a visit for the ICAP charity day. As Catherine chatted with someone named Andrew, William playfully eavesdropped and, clearly not loving what he was hearing, jokingly said, “Catherine, I think you could stop flirting with him now!” His cheeky remark had everyone laughing. He even apologized to another broker, quipping, “Sorry, my wife is just embarrassing me.”
The couple’s competitive spirit often shines through on such occasions, and that day was no exception. As they worked to raise funds for charity, William noticed Catherine was driving a tougher bargain during her calls, showing her knack for negotiation.
During an official royal tour of New Zealand, the couple took part in a friendly sailing race on Auckland Harbor. Despite a sudden downpour, they took to the water, joking that they must have brought the UK’s weather with them. The race, reportedly William's idea, was a chance for the two keen sailors to compete again—a tradition they've continued over the years. Although William initially came out on top, Catherine’s competitive spirit shone through. As a practiced sailor with experience as a deckhand, she was in her element, expertly steering her yacht under the guidance of Team New Zealand's skipper Dean Barker. She gave William a cheeky mock salute after winning not once, but twice, leaving him to playfully protest, “We were sabotaged!” When someone noted that Catherine looked pretty pleased with herself, William quipped, “I bet she is.”
Competition seems to run in royal blood. The late Queen Elizabeth II was known for her love of spirited contests, and the royal family has long embraced a culture of friendly competition. Like many parents, William and Catherine also find themselves mediating their children’s playful squabbles over TV remotes or sibling teasing.
Catherine’s brother, James Middleton, shared on the "Walking the Dog" podcast that William would sometimes make excuses to avoid the Middleton family’s competitive game nights—a charming insight into the prince's occasional hesitation to face off with his wife’s spirited family!
