Barefoot, a jubilant smile across her face and arms outstretched in celebration, she had just crossed the finish line of the mothers’ race at her son William’s primary school.

Princess Diana had a competitive streak and a passion for athletics, which she seems to have passed on to her granddaughter, despite the two never having the chance to meet.

Diana was known to roller-skate and ride a bicycle inside Buckingham Palace, which was depicted in The Crown, as well as having a fondness for 1980s trends such as step aerobics and power walking.

Ten-year-old Princess Charlotte, the only daughter of Kate Middleton and Diana’s elder son William, was described by her father as a ‘keen runner’ and is training for the 400m, as well as the hurdles.

Prince William spoke with Olympic middle-distance runner Keely Hodgkinson, 23, during her investiture at Windsor Castle earlier this year.

Hodgkinson received her MBE after winning gold in the women’s 800m at the Paris Olympics last year.

She became the first British track and field star to win Olympic gold since Sir Mo Farah back in 2016.

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Prince William and Kate Middleton with Princess Charlotte as they visit Sports Aid House at the 2022 Commonwealth Games

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Princess Diana is pictured competing in the mothers’ race at Prince William’s school sports day in 1989

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Diana had a competitive streak and a passion for athletics, which she seems to have passed on to her granddaughter, despite the two never having the chance to meet

The 23-year-old was named on the New Year’s Honours list following her astonishing year, which had also seen her defend her European title.

Hodgkinson was pictured in conversation and laughing with Prince William as she received her gong at Windsor Castle, before revealing he had told her his daughter Princess Charlotte is a keen runner.

‘The prince told me his daughter is doing the 400m at the minute and the hurdles and that she did watch me in Paris,’ Hodgkinson told PA.

‘He told me that he remembers me winning and that he wished he could be there to see it himself.’

This wasn’t the only time proud father William gushed about his daughter’s sporting achievements.

In 2022 William visited the England Lionesses training ground in Burton-on-Trent, Staffordshire, where he spoke with captain Leah Williamson.

He told her that Charlotte had asked him to pass on the message that she is ‘really good in goal’.

The young princess’s interest in exercise is no surprise, given the Royal Family’s fondness for sport.

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Keely Hodgkinson was pictured in conversation and laughing with Prince William as she received her MBE at Windsor Castle, before revealing he had told her his daughter Princess Charlotte is a keen runner

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Hodgkinson, from Salford, Greater Manchester, with her MBE at Windsor Castle

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The Olympic champion won the 800m Olympic gold medal in Paris last year

Keely Hodgkinson says one of her goals is to inspire youth to pursue their passion

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Royals have a long history of participating in and supporting various sports, including polo, horse racing and equestrian events.

Some members of the family have even achieved success at Olympic level, such as Princess Anne and Zara Tindall in three-day eventing.

Speaking to the Telegraph last October, Mike Tindall said that Kate ‘loves her running’, while Prince George takes after his father and ‘loves his football’, adding that he often plays with him in the garden.

Referring to William’s favourite team, he added: ‘He’s passionate about Aston Villa, too. Wherever he is, he’ll sit down and watch that game. They’re just a family who love sport.’

In 2006, the Prince of Wales became President of the Football Association, and regularly attends both FA Cup finals and England games.

As well as supporting national football, he champions the grassroots game.

He has previously said: ‘At its best, football is a powerful force for good in society. It binds people from different backgrounds, communities, faiths and abilities and gives them a common interest, a unifying identity.’

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Kate, William and Charlotte are pictured watching a hockey match between England and India at the University of Birmingham during the 2022 Commonwealth Games. Charlotte won over crowds with her cheeky expressions

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Princess Charlotte cheers as she watches the artistic gymnastics during the 2022 Commonwealth Games

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The princess is starstruck as she shakes hands with Dominican swimmer Warren Lawrence

Kate is keen tennis fan and became patron of the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in 2016.

In this capacity she regularly presents the trophies at the Wimbledon final.

According to royal biographer Andrew Morton, sports and physical activities, particularly roller-skating, were an important part of Princess Diana’s life and a way for her to relax and escape the pressures of palace life.

Diana’s personal trainer Jenni Rivett said: ‘Exercise is such an incredible release for anxiety and other low feelings. I believe as her body became fit, strong and healthy, she felt empowered and ready to face those bad times head-on.’

Unlike Charlotte, who is reportedly a very good student, Diana struggled academically and failed her O-levels.

But sports was an area where Diana excelled.

She regularly frequented the Chelsea Harbour Club gym in London, one of the country’s most prestigious fitness facilities.

When her sons Harry and William were at at Wetherby School she regularly participated in the mothers’ race in the late 1980s and early 1990s.

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Diana is pictured looking effortlessly glamorous leaving Chelsea Harbour Fitness Club in London after tennis coaching in August 1993

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Emma Corrin as Princess Diana roller-skating through Buckingham Palace in Netflix’s The Crown

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Vantage points for the media to view Diana race at William’s school sports day

Wetherby School’s sports day was traditionally held at Twickenham rugby ground and Richmond Athletic Ground.

Although it was closed to the media, one parent recalled in a Telegraph article from 2001 that television crews and telephoto lenses always ensured the sprinting princess received front-page coverage.

In 1989 Harry and William’s father, then-Prince Charles, also competed in the fathers’ race.

Unfortunately, Charles was less triumphant than Diana, coming in 30th place out of 35.

Diana, on the other hand, came in second place that year.

Kate and William are also said to be ‘like a normal mum and dad’ when it comes to their children’s school events, a source told The Sun.

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Diana races with other mothers at a school sports day at Richmond Rugby Club in June 1989

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In 1989 Harry and William’s father, then Prince Charles, also competed in the fathers’ race. Unfortunately, Charles was less triumphant than Diana, coming in 30th place out of 35

The couple are reported to be ‘hands-on’ parents who never miss an event at the Lambrook School in Berkshire where their three children, George, Charlotte and Louis, are pupils.

As Charlotte grows up and receives increasingly more media attention, there is hope that exercise will be a release for her, as it was for her late grandmother.

And we certainly want to see Kate win a mothers’ race at sports day.

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Diana holds hands with a young Prince Harry who has a sports day ribbon on his jumper in 1988