- Kate is the patron of SportsAid
- Charity offers workshops and training to talented young sports fans
- Duchess was a regular visit to East London venue during the 2012 games
- Has taken part in two royal engagements since the birth of George in July
- Wore skinny dark denim jeans and a Ralph Lauren top
Admittedly they weren't the most suitable footwear.
Still, the Duchess of Cambridge didn't let a pair of towering wedges put her off trying her hand at a game of volleyball today.
Dressed in a pair of skintight 'jeggings' by J Brand, a Ralph Lauren breton-style top, a one-button blazer by Smythe and, of course, those Stuart Weitzman for Russell and Bromley ‘corkswoon’ wedges, Kate gamely stood at the net and slammed back a few decidedly passable shots.
The Duchess of Cambridge played volleyball today as she took part in a SportsAid workshop at the former site of the Olympic Park in London
Sporty Kate looked great in her skinny jeans and blazer as she got involved with the game on her first solo engagement since birth of baby George
That said, the sporty Duchess missed what one onlooker described an 'absolute sitter', as she wasn't able to jump up high enough in the five inch heels.
Kate was taking part in a sports workshop at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in East London run by SportsAid, a charity which supports young athletes at the start of their careers.
The Duchess became patron of the organisation last year and was, said aides, keen to meet the athletes it was helping face-to-face and get a 'detailed insight into the challenges they face'.
Kate was taking part in a sports workshop at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in East London run by SportsAid, a charity which supports young athletes at the start of their careers.
The Duchess became patron of the organisation last year and was, said aides, keen to meet the athletes it was helping face-to-face and get a 'detailed insight into the challenges they face'.
Despite sporting a pair of Russell and Bromley blue heels and skinny 'jeggings' she managed a few quite passable shots and at one point she leapt up to score a 'spike'
SportsAid helps support young athletes by helping them to meet essential costs for travel, training, accommodation, competition fees and equipment
The Duchess's Russell & Bromley wedges may have hindered her prowess as one bystander claimed she missed a 'sitter'
Kate wore her favourite Russell & Bromley 'corkswoon' wedges but told SportsAid's chief executive Tim Lawler that she would be bringing trainers next time
It was Kate's first solo public engagement since the birth of her baby son Prince George.
It is believed that she left her three-month-old son at home in Kensington Palace with her husband, Prince William.
On her arrival she was greeted by Tim Lawler, chief executive of SportsAid, who then introduced her to a selection of its trustees.
Then it was straight down into the Copper Box arena where she began by chatting to a group of young badminton players with whom she had been expected to have a game.
Disappointingly she declined, but told them she had tried her hand at the sport before.
Eliza Cottingham, 17, said: 'We had been told she would have a game with us, but she didn't. She said she had played before as she wanted to try and see whether it was like tennis, but she said she found it much harder.'
At the wheelchair volleyball the Duchess chatted at length with Ade Adepitan MBE, himself a bronze medallist the Athens 2004 Paralympic Games.
The sportsman said: 'She was very keen to learn more about the difference SportsAid meant to these young players and asked whether we had any more players coming through as a result of last year's games. I told her we had more than ever before, it's been remarkable.
'It's a shame she didn't join us as its one of the few sports that able bodied and disabled can play together. I think she'd be great - she's got the height and is very naturally athletic. But she said she had only ever played netball at school.'
Kate, 31, left her three-month-old son with her husband to attend the event at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park
The new mother was in great spirits and great shape as she hit the indoor court in a navy and white outfit
'She wanted to give it a go but said she would bring better footwear next time. She said it would be hard to fence in those shoes,' she said.
Clearly, however, the Duchess had a change of heart by the time she reached the volleyball court.
Her team-mate, rower Steve Williams, who won two gold medals in the coxless fours in the 2004 and 2008 Olympics and is himself a SportsAid alumni, said afterwards: 'She got a couple of slum dunks - I think technically they call them spikes - in there. She's very tall and athletic and we were all pretty impressed.
'SportsAid is a remarkable organisation so it is very encouraging to see her here today learning about what they do.'
The Duchess was also persuaded to take part in a mock press conference, which was being run by ex BBC presenter Fiona Cotterill as part of a course to teach the young sports men and women media skills.
Taking the part of a journalist, Kate asked the young players: ‘It’s fantastic you have all been part of SportsAid. How has it helped you with your training?’
Many Olympians and Paralympians helped by the charity in the early days of their careers were present and introduced to the Duchess
The Duchess began her visit by viewing young athletes taking part in a selection of sports activities including wheelchair basketball, volleyball, fencing and badminton
Aides said she was keen to meet the athletes it was helping face-to-face and get a 'detailed insight into the challenges they face'
She also sat in on a mentoring session and asked the young players: ‘Does it help to compare each other’s sports and stuff. This must be a real opportunity to help each other.’
As she left, SportsAid’s chief executive, Tim Lawler, said of her visit: ‘The thing that has really struck me is how keen she was to see what we did in action.
‘We are a charity about people, not great buildings. Every penny we raise goes to the kind of people you see here.
‘We always tell our young people that they are beautiful and inspirational and now we can say that about our patron too.
‘She was very bright, very switched on and asked all the right questions. But more than that, she was very thoughtful and listened well, her listening skills were excellent.
‘This is the first time we have been able to put her patronage into action and we are very excited about the future.
During the morning Kate was also persuaded to take part in a mock press conference, which was being run by ex BBC presenter Fiona Cotterill as part of a course to teach the young sports men and women media skills
The Duchess also sat in on a mentoring session and asked the young players: ¿Does it help to compare each other¿s sports and stuff. This must be a real opportunity to help each other,¿
As she left SportsAid’s chief executive Tim Lawler said of her visit: ‘The thing that has really struck me is how keen she was to see what we did in action,'
Asked about the Duchess’s shoes, he said; ‘She clearly had a height advantage because of those heels but she is a natural athlete and had obviously has good hand to eye co-ordination too.
‘She told me ‘I must remember to bring my trainers next time, this is great fun’.’
Today's event was organised to highlight the practical work of SportsAid which helps support young athletes by helping them to meet essential costs for travel, training, accommodation, competition fees and equipment.
Many Olympians and Paralympians helped by the charity in the early days of their careers were present and introduced to the Duchess including Katherine Grainger, Mark Hunter, Leon Taylor, Karen Pickering, Ade Adepitan, Steve Parry, Danny Crates, Steve Williams, Alistair Patrick-Heselton and Gail Emms.
Kate, a keen sportswomen, was an ambassador for Team GB during the games last year and spent a lot of time meeting the players and supporters at the park
SportsAid was established in 1976 and funded two-thirds of the British team at the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympics.
SportsAid was established in 1796 and funded two-thirds of the British team at the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympics.
Today's event is the third official outing for the Duchess since she left hospital with Prince George in July.
She joined her husband for a low-key 'farewell' engagement in Anglesey over the summer and last month donned a glittering rose gold evening dress for the Tusk Conservation Awards in London.
In contrast Baby George has not been seen in public since his day-old debut on the steps of the Lindo Wing at St Mary's Hospital in Paddington.
His fiercely-protective parents chose not to invite a photographer in to take his first official pictures, preferring to release two grainy snapshots taken by Kate's father , Michael Middleton.
He will, however, be seen at his christening which takes place at The Chapel Royal in St James's Palace on Wednesday next week.
The baptism will take place at 3pm, last for 45 minutes and be conducted by the Archbishop of Canterbury.
Kate has appeared on two public engagements with husband Prince William since the birth of Prince George, including an unofficial visit to an ultra marathon in Anglesey in August (l) and attending the Tusk Conservation awards at The Royal Society in London in September (r)
Prince George was born on July 22nd this year at St Mary's hospital in Paddington, London
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