10 royals you never knew were so athletic
Experts tell us how they stay in shape
Hi everyone, it's Millie. Summer is in full swing and the royals have dispersed on their various summer sojourns. It is likely that many of the sportier specimens will use the time to hone their athletic prowess.
Here I look at the some of the most active royals we have today, and have added in a regal fitness trendsetter from several centuries past for good measure. Can you guess who it is?
I also consulted fitness experts Penny Weston and Fiona Kavanagh, who gave their opinion on how these royals might be keeping their physiques up.
As ever, I'd love to hear you thoughts. Which royal do you think is a true modern Olympian? Enjoy!
1. Prince William
Like his wife, Princess Catherine, Prince William keeps himself strong and healthy, with seven and a half years in the RAF giving him a solid fitness grounding.
"Our future King may not shout from the rooftops about his training regime, but looking at his physique, he clearly has one," said Fiona. "Having spent time in the military, it's highly likely that he still keeps to a strict regime. While we know he practises yoga for flexibility and mindfulness, it looks like he has kept up his running game. I would think that William is a fan of strength training, body weight looks most likely. I would think push ups, pull ups and some light football drills with his sons would be on the cards too."
2. Queen Mary
Walking, jogging and horse riding make up the basis of Queen Mary's sports routine, and the Danish royal is also known for her adherence to healthy eating, especially high-quality natural foods and oily fish.
"Queen Mary has a naturally athletic presence and carries visible muscle tone, particularly through her upper body and core. That kind of physique usually comes from regular resistance training, likely supported by a strong focus on core stability. To maintain balance and flexibility, routines such as yoga or Pilates often complement this kind of strength work, and are brilliant for posture, especially for those spending a lot of time on their feet or travelling," said Penny.
3. Princess Charlene
In her life before royalty, Princess Charlene was an Olympic swimmer, so it should come as no surprise that her physique maintains its athleticism. While her professional swimming days are behind her, the Monegasque royal still takes to the water occasionally for leisure, and enjoys walking and cycling.
"Our Olympic swimming icon-turned-royal is the queen of balance and variety," said Fiona.
"Princess Charlene emphasises that she maintains a balance of training through both strength training and cardio. Daily activities include walking and cycling, and of course swimming is still a key part of her life as an ex-Olympian. I would also bet you that her workouts include Reformer Pilates to keep things core-focused yet dynamic and spicy."
4. King Frederik
Denmark's king is not one to be overlooked when it comes to a sporting lineup. He enjoys running and cycling to such an extent that he completed an Ironman triathlon, comprising of a 2.4-mile swim, a 112-mile bike ride, and a 26.2-mile run. No mean feat!
Penny said: "King Frederik's background in endurance sport is clearly reflected in his build. There’s a lean muscularity and stamina that comes from consistent cardiovascular training, activities like running, cycling or swimming. It's likely that he pairs these with strength-based sessions to support joint health and mobility, especially as we age. He seems to value fitness as a lifestyle rather than just a routine, and that makes a huge difference to long-term wellbeing."
5. Meghan Markle
It's clear from Meghan Markle's physique that fitness and strength training are important to her.
"The Duchess of Sussex makes no secret of her love for mind and body connection. Meghan talks fondly of first being introduced to yoga by her mum and it's still a part of her daily life, to stay both zen, flexible and super toned," said Fiona.
"Meghan is also a fan of running, which she describes as meditation in movement, and when she wants to add some spicy strength to her workout, Meghan has raved about the Pilates Megaformer and claims that it is one of the best things you can do for your body."
6. Crown Prince Hussein
Crown Prince Hussein is certainly among the more buff royals, but his personal regime is something of a mystery.
"While the prince likes to keep a little mystery to his movement schedule, we know he has a connection to the military and looking at his physique it shows," said Fiona.
"I would think that Prince Hussein likes to get his endurance training in with long distance running, to keep his body strong and mind focused. The military also loves to push the body through calisthenics training like pull-ups, push ups and dynamic lunges."
7. Queen Elizabeth I
Elizabeth was ahead of her time when it came to health and fitness. As it may have scandalised the Tudor court had she emerged with dumbbells and a yoga mat, her choice of exercise was more demure: vigorous morning walks in the grounds of her palaces. She particularly liked the gardens at Hampton Court Palace and ordered the windows overlooking an area of the garden to be blocked up so that she could "walk secretly at all hours and times without anyone looking upon her out of any place."
In 1602, when the monarch was in her 60s, a foreign visitor at court was surprised by Elizabeth, noting: "Her Royal Majesty passed us several times, walking as freely as if she had been only eighteen years old."
8. Queen Letizia
While the Spanish queen may not be the tallest royal, she is certainly among the strongest with her toned physique often on display.
"Queen Letizia's muscle definition, particularly in her arms and shoulders, is a clear sign of regular strength training. Repetition-based resistance workouts using free weights or bands are incredibly effective for sculpting without bulking, especially when paired with mobility work. A balanced training routine with an emphasis on precision and form would explain her consistently sculpted, athletic frame," said Penny.
9. Prince Harry
In his military career, Prince Harry served in Afghanistan, where staying fit was a strong focus for both the prince and his fellow troops. He was photographed playing football despite the intense heat of the area. Although he has left military life behind, Prince Harry continues to exercise and play sport, including polo.
Penny said: "Prince Harry appears to favour functional fitness as his build is strong but not overly bulky, which points to circuit training, CrossFit-style workouts or even military-inspired training given his army background. He likely does a mix of cardio and strength, focusing on movement patterns that improve real-life strength and agility."
10. Arthur Chatto
Princess Margaret's grandson Arthur is so dedicated to fitness that he became a personal trainer at BoundFitness in Edinburgh while completing his degree. When making the announcement via the gym's website, Arthur wrote: "I'm a level 3 personal trainer, I specialise in strength and endurance training with a military focus. I was lucky enough to row around the UK this summer! This gave me a lot of experience in training myself and the team to complete the challenging expedition. I've found physical training to be an essential cornerstone in improving my own mental health, and I want to share this with others."
His rowing expedition involved a 2,000-mile journey in 38 days to raise money for charity, no mean feat.
Lockdown put a temporary pin in his personal training journey but he decided to upload training videos online, doing pull-ups, weights and HIIT workouts among other fitness exercises. He has since made the decision to join the Royal Marines, a regiment known for its hardcore training regimes and punishing fitness standard.
Further reading
A new home for William and Catherine?