Marie Claire Marie Claire
  • Celebrity
  • Fashion
  • Beauty
  • Culture
  • Power
  • Nice Talk
  • Fashion Month
  • More
    • Politics
    • Career & Money
    • Health & Fitness
    • Power Play
    • Travel
    • Promo Codes
    • Food & Cocktails
    • About Us
    • Subscribe
    • Sex & Love
  • Newsletter SIGN UP TO OUR NEWSLETTER
  • Marie Claire
    Marie Claire Newsletter

    Celebrity news, beauty, fashion advice, and fascinating features, delivered straight to your inbox!


    By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

    You are now subscribed

    Your newsletter sign-up was successful


    Want to add more newsletters?

    Marie Claire Daily

    Delivered daily

    Marie Claire Daily

    Get exclusive access to fashion and beauty trends, hot-off-the-press celebrity news, and more.

    Marie Claire Self Checkout

    Sent weekly on Saturday

    Marie Claire Self Checkout

    Exclusive access to expert shopping and styling advice from Nikki Ogunnaike, Marie Claire's editor-in-chief.

    Maire Claire Face Forward

    Once a week

    Maire Claire Face Forward

    Insider tips and recommendations for skin, hair, makeup, nails and more from Hannah Baxter, Marie Claire's beauty director.

    Livingetc

    Once a week

    Livingetc

    Your shortcut to the now and the next in contemporary home decoration, from designing a fashion-forward kitchen to decoding color schemes, and the latest interiors trends.

    Homes & Gardens

    Delivered Daily

    Homes & Gardens

    The ultimate interior design resource from the world's leading experts - discover inspiring decorating ideas, color scheming know-how, garden inspiration and shopping expertise.


    An account already exists for this email address, please log in.
    Trending
    • NYFW
    • Life In Plastic
    • Banana Republic x La Ligne
    • New Books
    • The Venice Film Festival
    1. Celebrity
    2. Royals

    Prince William and Princess Kate Aren't "Afraid to Get Their Hands Dirty" in Their Royal Work, Much Like Princess Diana

    "What comes through is authenticity."

    Kristin Contino's avatar
    By Kristin Contino
    Published 21 January 2026 In News

    When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

    Princess Kate curling on ice; Princess Diana wearing a dress playing lawn bowling
    (Image credit: Getty Images)
    • Facebook
    • X
    • Pinterest
    Share this article
    Join the conversation
    Follow us
    Add us as a preferred source on Google
    Subscribe to our newsletter

    Both Prince William and Princess Kate have shown their competitive sides during numerous royal events over the years, and on Tuesday, January 20, they got into the Winter Olympics spirit. The Prince and Princess of Wales took part in a curling lesson while visiting the Team GB and Paralympics GB curling teams in Stirling, Scotland—and body language expert Darren Stanton noted how their excited gestures showed the public how at the end of the day, they're "just like everyone else."

    Speaking on behalf of Betfair Casino, Stanton said that during William and Kate's day out in Stirling and Falkirk, "what comes through is authenticity." Whether it was chatting with locals at a village pub or taking part in the curling lesson, the body language expert said that "what you see is what you get" from the Prince and Princess of Wales, similar to William's late mother.

    Referencing Kate "celebrating a good shot in the curling, with her fist in the air," Stanton said that the gesture is "great to see because it reminds us that she’s human and shows how willing she is to really get involved."

    Latest Videos FromMarie Claire
    Watch full video here:

    Prince William kneeling playing curling on ice

    Prince William tried his hand at curling on January 20.

    (Image credit: Getty Images)

    Princess Kate raising her arm in the air while curling

    Princess Kate celebrated during a curling lesson in Stirling, Scotland.

    (Image credit: Getty Images)

    "Yes, she’s the future Queen of England, but she’s also deeply connected and grounded, very much in the way Diana was," Stanton added. "I think that’s why people resonate so strongly with both Kate and William."

    "People see that they will one day be King and Queen, but they’re also just like everyone else," he added. "They’re not afraid to get stuck in, to get their hands dirty, or to be down on their hands and knees curling if that’s what the moment calls for."

    You may like
    • Princess Kate wears a green blazer a Breton striped top and Prince William has a bald head and wears a navy suit William and Kate's "True Feelings" Were on Full Display
    • Princess Charlotte, Prince Louis, Prince George, Prince William, and Princess Kate in Scotland on August 1, 2026 Princess Kate and Prince William Aren't "Lazy"
    • Prince William sitting in the stands at the Commonwealth Games talking to Prince Louis and Prince George Prince William Follows in One Unexpected Royal’s Parenting Footsteps

    The famously sporty couple looked in high spirits as they faced off in curling, and Stanton said, "There’s another great shot where she’s curling, and again, her expression is so open and engaged. Overall, these images really signify the depth of feeling she has for people and her continued desire to connect with them on a very human level— whether she’s meeting a member of the public or a celebrity."

    Princess Diana hugging a child in a group of kids at a school

    Princess Diana is seen hugging a child on a trip to Brazil in 1991.

    (Image credit: Getty Images)

    Princess Kate and Prince William sitting with men at a pub

    Prince William and Princess Kate spoke with local residents at a pub in Stirling, Scotland.

    (Image credit: Getty Images)

    He added that "everyone is treated the same" by Kate, as evidenced in footage of the prince and princess speaking with residents and meeting a group of young children outside The Gothenburg, a community-run pub in the former mining village of Fallin.

    Marie Claire Newsletter

    Celebrity news, beauty, fashion advice, and fascinating features, delivered straight to your inbox!

    By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

    "I want to help pubs," William said to the group while enjoying a pint. "This is the best place to come and get to know each other."

    Referring to pubs as "the heart of the community," the future King added, "I grew up in pubs. I absolutely love pubs."

    Explore More
    Prince William Princess Catherine
    Kristin Contino
    Kristin Contino
    Senior Royal and Celebrity Editor

    Kristin Contino is Marie Claire's Senior Royal and Celebrity editor. She's been covering royalty since 2018—including major moments such as the Platinum Jubilee, Queen Elizabeth II’s death and King Charles III's coronation—and places a particular focus on the British Royal Family's style and what it means.

    Prior to working at Marie Claire, she wrote about celebrity and royal fashion at Page Six Style and covered royalty from around the world as chief reporter at Royal Central. Kristin has provided expert commentary for outlets including the BBC, Sky News, US Weekly, the Today Show and many others.

    Kristin is also the published author of two novels, “The Legacy of Us” and “A House Full of Windsor.” She's passionate about travel, history, horses, and learning everything she can about her favorite city in the world, London.

    Read more
    Princess Charlotte, Prince Louis, Prince George, Prince William, and Princess Kate in Scotland on August 1, 2026
    Royals Princess Kate and Prince William Aren't "Lazy"
    By Amy Mackelden
    Princess Kate Middleton has long wavy brown hair and wears a black polo neck sweater with a brown blazer
    Royals One Royal Has Become "Very Close" to Princess Kate
    By Amy Mackelden
     
     
    Prince William and Princess Kate kissing at a polo match
    Royals Royal Author Reveals the “Secret” to Prince William and Princess Kate’s Successful Marriage and How Kate Plans to Support Her Husband This Fall
    By Kristin Contino
    Princess Diana shaking hands with a fan as others take photos of her
    Royals Princess Diana’s Former Bodyguard Compares the Royal Family to "Traveling Theater"
    By Kristin Contino
     
     
    Latest in Royals
    Princess Kate mental health earrings
    Royals Princess Kate Makes “Significant” Jewelry Choice on Surprise Outing
    Princess Anne wearing a black coat and brooch
    Royals Princess Anne Brings Back a Nearly 60-Year-Old Brooch For King Harald's Funeral
     
     
    Crown Princess Ingrid Alexandra wearing black and a veil at King Harald's funeral
    Royals Norwegian Royals Choose Gems That Speak "The Language of Royal Mourning"
    Marius Borg Hoiby wearing a suit at King Harald's funeral
    Royals Marius Borg Høiby Leaves House Arrest for King Harald's Funeral
     
     
    Latest in News
    Princess Kate mental health earrings
    Royals Princess Kate Makes “Significant” Jewelry Choice on Surprise Outing
    Princess Anne wearing a black coat and brooch
    Royals Princess Anne Brings Back a Nearly 60-Year-Old Brooch For King Harald's Funeral
     
     
    A photo of Nikki Ogunnaike with an inset photo of Cari Champion and text reading Money. Power. Style. Nice Talk with Nikki Ogunnaike
    Culture Cari Champion on the Culture War Around the WNBA: "This Is All a Distraction"
    Crown Princess Ingrid Alexandra wearing black and a veil at King Harald's funeral
    Royals Norwegian Royals Choose Gems That Speak "The Language of Royal Mourning"
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    Marie Claire
    RSS
    • About us
    • Contact Future's experts
    • Contact us
    • Advertise Online
    • Newsletter
    • Terms and conditions
    • Privacy policy
    • Cookies policy
    • Careers
    Add as a preferred source on Google Add as a preferred source on Google

    Marie Claire is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

    © Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036.