The Prince and Princess of Wales visited the National Curling Academy in Stirling, Scotland, on January 20, 2026, where they tried their hand at curling ahead of the Winter Olympics. Catherine impressed onlookers by outperforming William in a head-to-head challenge, showcasing her competitive spirit. The outing highlighted Team GB's strong curling tradition as the couple wished athletes good luck.
On January 20, 2026, the Prince and Princess of Wales, known as the Duke and Duchess of Rothesay in Scotland, traveled to Stirling for a series of engagements that included a visit to the National Curling Academy. There, they met with Team GB and Paralympics GB curling teams to offer encouragement before the 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Milano-Cortina, Italy, set to begin the following month.
Curling, a sport originating in 16th-century Scotland where players slide granite stones toward a target called the house, has been one of Great Britain's most successful winter disciplines, securing six Olympic medals and two Paralympic medals to date. Skips Bruce Mouat and Jennifer Dodds provided a five-minute demonstration on technique, including pushing off from the rubber hack and using a slippery sole for propulsion.
William went first, confidently sliding his stone but noting, “It’s not going very fast.” Catherine, appearing nervous, held onto her husband's arm as she stepped onto the 45-meter ice sheet. Hoisting her skirt and tucking her hair, she crouched with the aid of a delivery stick. On her initial attempt, she lost balance and forgot to release the stone, managing only a few meters before pushing it forward and laughing, “Come on.”
Determined, she requested another try. Executive performance director Nigel Holl announced a head-to-head competition to see who could get closest to the button, the center of the house, with sweepers assisting each. Catherine's second stone landed squarely in the middle, prompting her to punch the air in celebration and high-five Jennifer Dodds. William later admitted, “It’s harder than it looks.”
Bruce Mouat praised the royals, saying, “It was wonderful, really nice that they came to wish us good luck... both of them were lovely and willing to curl.” Fans online lauded Catherine's poise post her 2024 cancer diagnosis and 2025 remission, noting her regained strength. The visit underscored the couple's support for British sports amid their return to duties.
