IN HER eight years as a royal there is one item of clothing that Kate Middleton has avoided, until today.

The Duchess of Cambridge was pictured wearing a pair of shorts in public for the first time in eleven years at the charity yachting regatta in Cowes.

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Kate, 37, showcased her sea legs in a pair of navy blue shorts as she went head to head with Prince William at the King’s Cup event.

The last, and reportedly, only time Kate has donned the item of clothing in public was back in September 2008 when she attended a Day-Glo Midnight Roller Disco Party in London.

She showcased her impeccable pins in a pair of yellow mini shorts and a sequined green top – and it seems that Kate’s legs are just as enviable a decade and three children later.

Royal fans took to Twitter to gush over the Duchess’ legs following her appearance on Thursday.

One wrote: “Damn Kate Middleton’s legs!”

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Twitter

Twitter

Agreeing a second tweeted: “I’m going to keep it real. I’m getting a trainer and taking these pics to them to have them set me up to get her legs.”

A third agreed adding: “Huge fan of the wonderful Kate, those legs are killers.”

While the Middleton genetics clearly play a significant role in her “killer legs” – as Prince Harry calls them – Kate is known to love staying fit and active.

She’s an avid skier, some say better that Prince William, and the duchess likes to workout doing yoga and Pilates and has also enjoyed rowing, cross-country running and hockey.

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A royal insider told the Daily Mail: “Kate is an exercise junkie. Pippa and Kate take their toned physiques extremely seriously. And mother Carole, in her 60s, is in extremely good shape.”

In the past, the two sisters are said to have spent time working out at Kate’s home, Kensington Palace.

The royal source said: “They worked hard in the gym at Kensington Palace, starting with cardio warm-ups, hip raises, diagonal and reverse lunges, stomach crunches, squats, calf raises, bridges and push-ups.”

Appearing on the royal documentary Meghan and Harry: A Royal Baby Story, royal journalist Ashley Pearson revealed that Kate Middleton is much more restricted in what she can wear in comparison to her sister-in-law Meghan Markle.

Commenting on Kate’s unique position in the Royal Family (and how this plays into her fashion choices), Ashley said: “Kate Middleton has a whole other set of rules and restrictions because she’s going to be Queen.

“She and Meghan are not on the same page. Kate Middleton has to wear her skirts a certain length.”

In other royal news, we told you how Prince Andrew wished the wrong daughter happy birthday in an awkward Twitter gaffe.

And Kate’s new “pick-me-up” blonder hair has been achieved using a “free-hand painting” technique, a hairdresser has claimed.

This content was originally published here.