Prince William packs a punch in latest royal engagement

Gloves out and suited up, Prince William showed off his royal right hook while sparring with coaches from Copper Box Arena at London’s Olympic Park on Thursday, October 10.

William and his wife, Catherine, Princess of Wales, visited the boxing gym to mark the 10th anniversary of the Coach Core organisation, a charity that had been launched with the aid of the couple’s Royal Foundation.

To celebrate the milestone year, the Wales’ met with the young people supported by the initiative as well as a few of the amateur coaches.

William was particularly keen to throw some punches, as he donned a pair of blue boxing gloves and learned some of the sport’s fundamentals and rules when boxing in the ring.

“I taught him some basics – one-two, jab. He wasn’t bad. He picked it up quickly. Some defences as well – some slips, some rolls,” 18-year-old Grabielle Reid told The Telegraph.

William then went on to spar with 21-year-old coaching apprentice, Joshua Jones.

“I showed him the jab, the backhand. Then to mix it up I showed him how to throw a one-two, stance and guard,” Jones also told the publication.

“It was good to see he had a few skills under his belt. He enjoyed it. He told me he had done a bit before, but he’s got a little knuckle injury or something like that, so he wouldn’t be taking it up any time soon.”

Meanwhile, on the other side of the gym, Catherine was participating in a game of Boccia, an Italian version of wheelchair bowls.

This isn’t the first time the Prince and Princess of Wales have gotten involved in sporting activities while on a royal engagement. In fact, the couple is known for their sporty and competitive nature.

In August 2019, the couple hosted the inaugural regatta The King’s Cup where they went head to head as skippers of individual sailing boats as part of an eight-boat regatta race.

While Catherine lost against her husband, finishing in last place, in a more recent boat race the Princess of Wales accompanied team Great Britain for a friendly “Commonwealth Race” against Team New Zealand at the Great Britain Sail Grand Prix.

Meanwhile, football fan Prince William showed off his winning kick during a visit to England Women’s football team, the Lionesses, earlier this June.

William and Catherine have been passing their love for sports onto their children, taking their eldest son, Prince George, 9, to his first Wimbledon match and having Princess Charlotte, 7, make her first sporting debut at this year’s Commonwealth Games.