Team GB Paralympian offers Kate Middleton horse riding lessons

The Duchess of Cambridge is mounting horses despite reported allergies. Photo: John Stillwell/PA

Thursday, October 25, 2012
8:42 AM

The Duchess of Cambridge Kate Middleton has been offered free horse riding lessons by Paralympian Lee Pearson, who has heard she is interested in taking up a new hobby.

The 30-year-old royal revealed she was becoming an equine fan - despite once claiming she was allergic to animals - while attending a special event at Buckingham Palace on Tuesday night to pay tribute to all the athletes who won medals at the London Olympic and Paralympic Games earlier this year.

Paralympic athlete Lee Pearson said: “Kate said she’s learning to ride, so I offered to give her some lessons.”

The event, which was also attended by Queen Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh, left some of the competitors overawed, with gold medal winning boxer Nicola Adams admitting she was more nervous meeting the queen than she was at the Games.

She told the Daily Star newspaper: “I think I was more excited than I was for my competition. The queen was saying she is really proud of all the athletes.”

Hockey star Emily Maguire also praised Catherine’s down-to-earth approach with people.

She said: “She’s lovely, so easy to talk to and because she played hockey she has a real connection to the sport.”