The Princess of Wales, Catherine, is known for her diverse range of hobbies, from photography to tennis.
Alongside her husband, Prince William, she enjoys bike riding and rowing.
However, there is one hobby that the royal couple can’t seem to agree on – swimming.
In an interview on The Good, The Bad, and the Rugby podcast, Princess Kate revealed that she and Prince William are polar opposites when it comes to this activity, with her husband even calling her crazy.
Princess Kate confessed that she has a guilty pleasure for swimming, particularly in cold water.
She expressed her love for it, stating, “The colder, the better.
I absolutely love it.”
Despite her enthusiasm, Prince William finds her affinity for swimming in such conditions rather peculiar.
“It’s slightly to the point where William is like, ‘You’re crazy!'”
she added with a laugh.
While she enjoys swimming in dark, rainy weather, she admitted that she wouldn’t want to subject herself to a freezing sub-zero ice bath.
During a visit to Wales last year, Princess Kate shared another insight into her swimming routine.
She mentioned that she even has a robe for after her swims, which she saw someone wearing to keep warm in the rain.
Reflecting on her childhood sports memories with her siblings, Pippa and James Middleton, she recalled playing hockey and netball in the freezing cold rain.
She remarked, “We are all totally mad.
But it has been really great fun.
I can always remember being physical and using our bodies, climbing in the Lake District or Scotland, swimming from a young age.”
Cold water swimming has been found to offer mental health benefits in addition to physical exercise, as highlighted in a study published by Harvard Public Health.
Dr. Sarah Brewer, an independent medical nutritionist, explained that cold water immersion stimulates endorphins, improving mood and helping combat stress, anxiety, and depression.
Dr. Sarah further emphasized that Princess Catherine’s hobby of cold water swimming aids in achieving calm meditation by focusing on breathing.
Ali Phillips, who conducts wild swimming sessions at the Lake District Spa, Armithwaite Hall, explained that cold water therapy allows individuals to switch off.
She stated, “Once you’re immersed in the cold water, you are fully in that experience and forget about everything else.”
This aspect makes it an ideal practice for Princess Kate, who leads a busy life.
Cold water swimming keeps her in the present moment, providing the ultimate form of mindfulness.
While Princess Kate and Prince William had their ups and downs throughout their relationship, they eventually found their fairy tale ending.
They first met at St. Andrew’s University in 2001.
However, one of the reasons behind their brief breakup was reportedly William’s last-minute decision not to spend New Year’s Eve with the Middletons in 2006.
At the time, a colleague witnessed Princess Kate receiving the breakup call in the office car park in London.
She appeared upset, engaging in what seemed like an argument.
Following the call, she remained silent and disappeared for the rest of the day.
Looking back, it is evident that the call was a girlfriend-boyfriend tiff.
Despite this bump in the road, the couple announced their engagement in 2010 and tied the knot the following year.
Since then, they have welcomed three children together.
Princess Kate’s love for swimming, particularly in cold water, serves as her personal guilty pleasure, offering her a means to manage stress and find solace amidst her royal responsibilities.