Prince George and Princess Charlotte be taught to sail
They are avid sailors who have jokingly raced each other on royal visits to show off their skills on the water.
And now the Prince and Princess of Wales have passed on their love of sailing to their oldest children and have bought a ‘shrimper’-style sailboat to enjoy summer afloat on the beautiful North Norfolk coast.
While Kate has been recovering from cancer treatment at Anmer Hall, the family’s home on the Sandringham estate, ten-year-old Prince George and Princess Charlotte, nine, have been taking sailing lessons at a local club.
The area is known as ‘Chelsea-on-Sea’ and is popular with well-heeled visitors and second-home owners.
A villager connected with the sailing club said: ‘I have seen Kate bringing George and Charlotte here for lessons. You often see their car arrive.
The Prince and Princess of Wales have passed on their love of sailing to their oldest children Prince George and Princess Charlotte
Kate sailing in the eight boat regatta at The King’s Cup at Crowes off the south coast of England in 2019
The Prince and princess have bought a ‘shrimper’-style sailboat to enjoy summer afloat on the beautiful North Norfolk coast (Stock image)
‘Someone takes them out so that they can learn the ropes, while Kate stays on shore. She waits in the club and sits on the balcony. She likes reading and sunbathing.
‘Sometimes William is here as well, keeping an eye out and watching their boat coming back. It is great that they have a chance to do normal things.
‘I know they have their own boat on one of the creeks around here, and a beach hut as well.’
The villager said she expects Prince Louis, six, to join in the sailing fun when he is older.
Kate learned to sail as a child and worked as a deckhand on luxury yachts in the Solent in her late teens.
She has spoken of her love of the ocean and she and William, who also learned to sail as a child, have raced against each other during official duties, including a rain-lashed regatta in the Bahamas two years ago, which ended in victory for the future king.
Kate is patron of the sailing charity 1851 Trust.
The family’s wooden boat has two sails and a small cabin. It is thought to be a ‘Cornish Shrimper’ type, inspired by traditional fishing boats.
It is usually moored on a creek on marshland and is accessible only down a muddy footpath.
A source said: ‘It is kept out of the way because they like to try to keep a low profile.’
