Princess Kate’s Competitive Dynamic With Prince William Caught on Camera

Princess Kate’s competitive streak has been showcased in a new viral video on social media site TikTok as fans praise her dynamic with Prince William.

Kate and William have gone head to head in a number of sports and creative activities during official appearances throughout their 13-year marriage, with the winner often jokingly reveling in their victory.

Both the prince and princess are sports fans, and in a 2023 interview they joked that they haven’t been able to finish a game of tennis in years because it “becomes a mental challenge between the two of us.”

Public focus on William and Kate has grown since the beginning of the year as the princess stepped away from official appearances while she experienced health challenges, leading to the announcement of a cancer diagnosis in March.

In June the royal provided an update on her health, stating that though still undergoing chemotherapy treatment, she hoped to be able to make some appearances over the summer. So far she has attended the Trooping the Colour celebrations in June and the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in July.

In the absence of regular new appearances, fans have taken to social media to share and discuss highlights from favorite past engagements, ranging from royal ceremonies like the coronation to sports appearances such as the 2012 Olympic Games in London.

Uploaded to TikTok by user @luguape4 on July 29, a compilation of clips showing Kate’s competitive side has reached over 220,000 views so far, with fans praising the royal’s interactions with her husband.

Captioned “The Prince and Princess of Wales are very competitive,” the post includes footage of the couple during a London marathon charity event in 2016, where they participated in a sprint race with Prince Harry in front of the press.

William jokingly covered his wife’s eyes to distract her and despite her best effort to catch up, Harry took the victory.

Other clips include the fearless moment Kate asked to hold a tarantula spider during a visit to Ireland with William in 2021. There’s also the moment she adventurously tried a Bahamian conch flesh delicacy during a tour of the Caribbean in 2022 while her husband watched tentatively from the sideline.

The video has received in excess of 6,800 likes and over 200 comments, many of which have praised Kate.

“She can do it all and isn’t afraid to try anything!! And looks beautiful doing it!” wrote one TikTok user.

“Icons,” posted another, adding: “Love it when they’re teasing at competitions. William doesn’t want to let her win and she’s going to try and beat him.”

James Crawford-Smith is Newsweek‘s royal reporter, based in London. You can find him on X (formerly Twitter) at @jrcrawfordsmith and read his stories on Newsweek‘s The Royals Facebook page.

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