Princess Kate's pal has revealed they "keep in touch as much as they can", but acknowledged the future Queen has a "busy" schedule.
Britain's most decorated Olympic sailor has lavished praise on Kate's sailing prowess, calling her "fearless" at the helm of his high-speed racing catamaran.
Sir Ben Ainslie revealed that Kate steered his F50 catamaran to victory during a race at the Sail Grand Prix in Plymouth in 2022.
"Kate was steering, and she was very, very good," Ainslie told Hello! whilst attending Wimbledon.
PA
|Kate’s pal reveals heartbreak over ‘busy’ Princess as they ‘keep in touch as much as they can’.
PA
|Kate and Sir Ben Ainslie appear to share a close bond.
"This wasn't just any old boat - this was a catamaran that goes up to 100km per hour - and we won, so she clearly knows what she's doing."
The four-time Olympic gold medallist described the Princess as "an incredible sailor in her own right".
Ainslie revealed that Kate required no guidance when taking control of the vessel. "I didn't need to give her any tips. She had a great feel for the boat and was fearless, from what I could tell," he said.
The Princess serves as royal patron of Ainslie's 1851 Trust, which aims to inspire young people through sport. Despite her busy schedule, she maintains regular contact with Britain's sailing teams.
Getty
|Kate and Sir Ben Ainslie pictured in 2015.
PA
|Kate and Sir Ben Ainslie first met during the London 2012 Olympic Games.
"She's very passionate and we keep up to date on what's going on with the sailing teams," Ainslie explained.
"She's busy, but she keeps in touch as much as she can, which is great, and we're grateful for her support."
Fellow Olympic sailor Hannah Mills shared her own memories of the Plymouth event, where she sailed alongside the Princess whilst pregnant. "It was very special to have her sail with us," Mills recalled.
"I was pregnant at the time, so we were chatting all things bumps and babies, which was really nice."
PA
|Kate and Sir Ben Ainslie were last pictured together in 2022.
Mills, a two-time world champion, emphasised the significance of royal support for British athletes.
"Having the royals' backing spurs you on, but doing any sport and having your home nation supporting you is very special," she said.
"It's always amazing when you're competing, but when you've got certain eyes watching you that you're not used to in everyday life, it's pretty wild."
The sailors made their comments whilst enjoying hospitality at Wimbledon, where Ainslie described the Royal Box as "one of the most exclusive opportunities in sport".
PA
|Sir Ben Ainslie has complimented Kate's sailing abilities.
The Olympic champion, who lives just 500 yards from SW19, praised this year's championships and the British performances.
Mills reflected on her own Royal Box experiences, saying: "It's amazing, unique and bizarre.
"After winning gold at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, that invitation was the main thing I was waiting for."
The Emirates suite gathering included sporting legends Sir Ian Botham, Dame Ellen MacArthur and Nicola Adams, all enjoying the tournament's quintessentially British atmosphere.