Paula Radcliffe, the record-breaking marathon runner, has praised Princess Charlotte for inspiring young people to get into sports.

The athlete recently met with Prince William who awarded her with an OBE (Officer of the Order of the British Empire) award, equivalent to the Order of Australia.

During the ceremony, Radcliffe shared the pair discussed the increasing popularity of the London Marathon among youths.

“The fastest-growing age group for the London Marathon now is 18-29, which is phenomenal,” she said.

Radcliffe says increased safety measures to protect women when they are running are also contributing to the swell in interest.

She went onto add “role models” are also a big factor and she specifically cited Charlotte, an avid netball player, as a prime example.

“Role models… particularly Princess Charlotte out exercising – I think that’s great to see…because a lot of people will be inspired by that and will go into sport,” Radcliffe said.

According to The Express, Charlotte is part of an outside-school netball team that competes across the UK at a competitive level.

Like mother like daughter, Princess Catherine also played netball when she was just 11 in 1992.

However, the Princess of Wales later developed a penchant for field hockey and went on to play for the University of St Andrews.

Charlotte’s preferred netball position is reportedly Goal Attack, an insider told Woman’s Day, who added “she can play centre and Goal Keeper too.”

In 2025, William told American Pie actor Eugene Levy Charlotte also enjoys ballet.

“Keeping them busy with sports and being outdoors is really important,” he shared.

While studying at St Andrews, William captained his water polo team.

During one match in Wales, the opposing captain told reporters William “gave as good as he got,” MyLondon wrote.

In 2014, William continued the tradition of taking on the presidency of the British Sub-Aqua Club, following on from his father and the late Prince Philip.

Radcliffe spoke highly of the would-be King, saying he was “very, very genuine.”

“He remembered watching me run as he was growing up, which is really very sweet.”

Radcliffe held the women’s marathon world record for 16 years and, the year she ran it, was faster than every British male contestant.

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