Could the U.K.’s next major track star be a member of the royal family? On Tuesday, during an investiture ceremony at the Windsor Castle, Prince William revealed that his 10-year-old daughter, Princess Charlotte of Wales, has taken up the 400m and hurdles.
William shared the news while honouring Olympic 800m champion Keely Hodgkinson with the Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE). The prestigious honour, appointed by King Charles in December, recognizes Hodgkinson’s outstanding contributions to British athletics.
“The prince told me his daughter is doing the 400m and the hurdles and that she did watch me in Paris,” Hodgkinson said. “He told me that he remembers me winning and that he wished he could be there to see it himself.”
William opted not to attend last year’s Olympics in Paris to protect the health of his wife, the Princess of Wales, who was undergoing cancer treatment at the time.
Princess Charlotte’s growing interest in athletics comes as no surprise. The young royal has already dabbled in rugby, soccer and gymnastics, and appears to have inherited her competitive spirit and athleticism from her mother, who has long been active in many sports and excelled in tennis and field hockey while growing up.
Is Hodgkinson back on the track?
It’s been a big year for the runner; in December, the 23-year-old was named BBC Sports Personality of the Year, becoming the first track athlete to win since Mo Farah won in 2017, and the first female track athlete to win since 2004.
But in February, a sudden hamstring injury forced Hodgkinson to withdraw at the last minute from her own meet, the Keely Klassic, where she was slated to challenge the indoor 800m world record.
Now, she’s ready to return. Hodgkinson is set to compete in next month’s Stockholm Diamond League–her first race since Paris. “The hamstring progressed nicely and we took our time with it,” she said. “We have had no problems so far, which has been really positive. [We’re] back in full training, doing everything.”
“I’m still four or five weeks away from opening my season but I’m looking forward to it,” she continued. “It’s a big race, it’s basically an Olympic final again.”
