Kate Middleton breaks major royal tradition with rare move during latest engagement

Kate Middleton has left royal fans shocked by breaking a major tradition during her latest engagement.

Now, it's no secret that the Princess of Wales, 44, and her husband Prince William, 43, are royals who are doing things differently.

From taking selfies with fans to sharing anecdotes of their family life with their three children, Prince George, 12, Princess Charlotte, 10, and Prince Louis, seven, the couple are somewhat modernising the monarchy.

For context, the royal family have reportedly traditionally maintained a 'no selfies rule' - something that has only started changing in recent times.

And now, for her latest engagement, Kate has switched things up once again and was seen driving herself to an event at Windsor Castle - heels and all.

On Thursday (15 January), the princess, who is patron of England's Women's Rugby team, hosted a reception at Windsor Castle to celebrate the squad's World Cup win in September 2025.

Kate hosted a Windsor Castle reception for the England Women's rugby team (WPA Pool/Getty Images)

Footage showed her arriving at the event and exiting a black car from the driver's side before meeting an aide, who provided an umbrella.

Royals are almost always driven to official engagements by chauffeurs, so royal fans were surprised to see Kate arriving solo and emerging from behind the wheel.

Others branded her ability to drive in heels as 'iconic,' as let's face it, that's a task in itself.

On Twitter, one user who shared the video, penned: "The Princess of Wales drove herself to Windsor Castle this afternoon to host a reception for the England Women’s rugby team - in an Alexander McQueen suit and stilettos. Iconic."

While a second responded: "She drove herself!! Wow!!" and a third quipped: "She is the most beautiful real royal and a real person!!!"

Others pointed out that this isn't the first time Kate has driven herself, and she's actually been papped behind the wheel a number of times.

During the rugby event, Kate hailed the team's 'amazing achievement' and described how her children play rugby at home, as well as cricket, but joked she would not want to be tackled by Prince George.

She also spoke positively about girls and boys playing sports together at a young age before physical differences set in, saying they should not be put into a 'pigeonhole' too early.

It's actually not the first time the princess has driven herself to an engagement (Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images)

Sports Personality of the Year nominee Ellie Kildunne joked with Kate about the cowboy hat she wore when she joined the Red Roses in the dressing room after a match last year.

The princess watched from the stands when they defeated Australia in Brighton in a pool match, and then joined the players when they celebrated in the changing rooms.

She revealed that the princess and some players performed a cowboy lasso dance.

The player said: "She said, ‘Oh, (have you) forgotten your cowboy hat this time’, I said, it looks like you’re the one that’s forgotten the cowboy hat.

"When she came to watch the game after, I don’t really know the royal rules, and I didn’t know whether you’re not allowed to put a hat on, or I didn’t know, but she was a good sport."

Kildunne added: “She put the hat on, she had a bit of a cowboy dance, and yeah really special moment that she’s now officially a cowboy, so we’ll have to tattoo her as well soon.”

Kate also talked about her own children's sporting hobbies (Kin Cheung / POOL / AFP via Getty Image)

Kate told the group of World Cup winners: "You’ve really inspired all the new generation (that) perhaps might not even have thought rugby was for them.”

She added: “I think it really showed how accessible rugby is to so many types of girls, in different parts of the country.”

Asked if her daughter Charlotte played the sport, Kate replied: “Charlotte is playing rugby but at home with the family, so she isn’t yet at school, and I was asking how many schools are actually incorporating (rugby)."

She continued: “Rugby is so accessible, Louis is playing touch rugby and it’s such a great game. Actually, they shouldn’t necessarily need to pigeonhole boys and girls in particular sports too early.

“Obviously as they get physically stronger - George now, if we play at home, I do not want to get tackled by George - but, up to a certain age I think it’s great."