It's obvious Kate Middleton has a way with kids [1], and it may have something to do with her willingness to get down on their level. When it comes to her littlest fans, the duchess is all about crouching down to interact with them (it's one of her sweetest parenting moves [2] with George, Charlotte, and Louis too). In addition to the gesture being downright adorable, it's also quite impressive — can you imagine the leg strength required!?
Sure, Kate is active and loves to play sports [3], but any person spending that much time in what is essentially a wall sit position would be sweating. Feeling the burn. Possibly shaking from the waist down. And let's not forget that she's usually wearing heels, maintaining modesty, and making small talk while doing it (even when she's pregnant!). Keep reading for photographic proof that this royal really does have superhuman strength.
A 90-degree knee bend, and not a trace of brow sweat!
Look at that engaged calf muscle.
Cue the calf cramps.
She's not even resting her elbows on her thighs.
Her smile isn't even strained.
SHE IS PREGNANT HERE.
Crouching in four-inch heels? No problem!
My thighs are shaking just looking at this.
Finally! A small sign of fatigue — her arm resting on her thigh. She is human after all.
How low can she go?
We have a feeling she'd crush it at a game of limbo.
She can do it in wedges, too!
Her flowing skirt must hide her shaking legs.
A handshake and a leg workout — count us impressed!
Sand is no match for Kate when it comes to squats.
The fancier the dress, the more spectacular the squat.
You'd never guess her foot was cramping with that smile on her face.
"Now girls, let me show you the proper way to crouch."
A slightly more seated position is essential for a longer chat.
That girl's mom is definitely admiring Kate's thigh strength.
Casual clothes make for an even easier crouch!
Heels in grass, thigh-high slit, giant bouquet — the obstacles are endless, and yet, she continues to hold her position.
You'd never know how desperately she wants to sit on the floor, too.
Ah, flat boots. She'll crouch through that line of kids with ease.
Even he's wondering how she's holding steady.
"Why, yes, I'd love to look at your homemade gift, but all I can think about are my sore calves."
"Quick, give me those flowers, my legs are starting to tire."
She looks like she could hold that stance for hours.
Platform heels don't even present a problem.
Do your legs hurt yet?
Hers might — there's that arm on the knee again.
She's smiling, because she knows how impressive she looks.
Only Kate could hold a full squat position in a silky dress.
She must be laughing, because she just broke her personal "time spent in a crouching position" record.
When others sit crisscross, the Duchess squats.
Throngs of fans are no match for Kate's crouching stance.
Forget the impressive strength: we want to know how her undies aren't sticking out.
This crouching thing is old hat.
A slightly-lesser knee bend will have to do when it's raining.
The "one-handed with an umbrella" crouch.
The serious lean.
The duchess slant [4] has nothing on Kate's crouch.
The most cheerful thigh workout ever performed.
Workout wear for a leg workout, how appropriate!
Once again, SHE IS PREGNANT HERE.
"So tell me, how long can you hold a squat for?"
"That's a lovely princess dress, but next, you'll need to work on your leg conditioning."
A rare open-knee squat sighting.
"It's OK, buddy. One day you'll be as strong as me."
She's been holding the stance so long, her jacket even had to rest on the ground.
We call this the "sporty squat."