Kate Middleton news: Duchess of Cambridge joins Sir Ben Ainslie in royal latest | Royal | News (Reports)

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Kate has a longstanding connection to the 1851 Trust having been a royal patron since 2014. The event, like many royal engagements in the age of coronavirus, took place over the telephone.

It was revealed in the Court Circular, published in The Times, which lists the activities of senior members of the Royal Family.

On Thursday it said: “Her Royal Highness, Patron, the 1851 Trust, this afternoon held a meeting with Sir Benedict Ainslie (Captain, Team GB for the America’s Cup) via telephone.”

The Duchess has worked with Sir Ben, who is currently preparing a British team for the 2021 Americas Cup, numerous times.

In 2012 the pair met at the London Olympics where Sir Ben won his fourth sailing gold medal.

Kate has also been deeply involved with the British America’s Cup team bid attending the launch event along with Sir Ben in 2014.

The next year, as part of her support for the 1851 Trust, the Duchess toured the Ben Ainslie Racing headquarters from which the America’s Cup bid is being prepared.

In 2016 Kate joined Sir Ben for a sailing training session conducted off the coast of Portsmouth.

Last summer she competed against her husband Prince William in the King’s Cup sailing regatta by the Isle of Wight.

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It’s boat, registered with the Royal Yacht Squadron, will face rivals from New Zealand, Italy and the United States.

In the 166 years it’s been taking part no British team has ever won the America’s Cup despite numerous attempts.

In the most recent update on the Ineos Team UK website Sir Ben said his crew managed to have a very productive summer despite coronavirus related disruption.

He wrote: “I can say we’ve probably had one of the best summers of sailing ever as a team in the UK.

“Being forced off of the water for a few months was, of course, frustrating. As they say in the America’s Cup the one thing you can’t buy is time.

“From May through to August however we had a brilliant sailing period.

“We have now finished sailing in the UK and are currently halfway through relocating our entire team to New Zealand.”

When they arrive in New Zealand the team will enter a mandatory two week quarantine period due to COVID-19 before they can resume training.

Kate and William spent the coronavirus lockdown at Anmer Hall, their country home in Norfolk.

They continued taking part in royal engagements at first virtually, then in person as restrictions were lifted.

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