After serving as an ambassador to the British team at the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games last summer, the Duchess was inspired to extend her role to the next generation in becoming SportsAid's Patron earlier this year.

This was her first visit to the charity, and her first solo public engagement of any sort since the birth of her son Prince George of Cambridge, now the third in line to the British throne, in July.

Despite this however, along with the fact that the high heels she sported were hardly normal athlete ware, the Duchess seemed in her element as her sporting talents were put to the test in a new sport.

Although renowned at hockey, tennis and skiing, the Duchess had apparently never attempted volleyball before.

The Duchess of Cambridge tries her hand at volleyball


Yet in the words of some of her new teammates from the England junior squad she showed impressive natural talent, particularly when accounting for her footwear.

The Duchesses presence is serving to create a higher profile for SportsAid, which has been helping the next generation of athletes to succeed since 1976.

They claim to have supported two thirds of the British team at London 2012 for example and the hope is that many of those supported today will become future Olympians.

Some these alumni, including swimmer Steven Parry, rowers Steve Williams and Katherine Grainger and wheelchair basketball player Ade Adepitan, were present here to add a further sense of inspiration.

Given the profile of the guests on show the atmosphere seemed remarkably low key in the Olympic Park at first as athletes quietly and effectively went about their training for the five sports of volleyball, badminton, wheelchair basketball, fencing and cerebral palsy football.

The multiple colours of the Copper Box reflected the multiple skills required for the five sports on display, as well as the multiple ages, genders and physiques on display.

However the basic attributes of a sports person remains more uniform and this was the clear thing between all the youngsters present with the camaraderie between them all evident.

The Duchess, when she arrived, fitted this same bill perfectly and showed a impressive desire to get stuck in regardless of her inexperience in the given sport.

The Duchess of Cambridge speaks to wheelchair basketball players and coaches




This view was underlined by two of her new volleyball teammates in Sophie Szyszko and Paige Fullerton who are both members of the England Junior Squad.

The pair agreed to insidethegames that the day had been "amazing" and one of their "favourite ever experiences."

"She was really good especially as it was her first time playing volleyball."

The duo continued by explaining how the Sports Aid support "has definitely helped us with training."

"We both live in London but the National Training Centre is in Kettering so travel expenses mount up and we also need support for trainers and things like that," they explained. 

Szyszko, who has played since she was 13, is now hoping to secure a collegiate scholarship to play in the USA.

The four time Olympic medalist and London 2012 winning rower Katherine Grainger was another to echo her praise of both the event, and of the Duchesses presence.

"It's been really lovely, not just the fact that she attended but that she really joined in," she told insidethegames.

"She did her usual walk around and then just joined in the volleyball and got stuck into a proper game.

"She could have just stuck with something she'd done before but she was brave and chose not to and was very good."

"It massively raises the profile when royalty is involved because it shows that Sports Aid must be an important organisation and people want to hear more.

"Also for any of the young people involved, future stars, the fact that she's coming to chat to them and showing a genuine interest, that as an athlete really makes you feel special and remember.

The Duchess of Cambridge poses with athletes young and old in addition to coaches and support staff in the Copper Box


Although the Duchesses immediate arrival resulted in some attention what was most impressive was that the youngsters seemed more keen to get back to the day job of shooting hoops, scoring goals and smashing shuttlecocks.

In front of a mix of parents and celebrity athletes, and somewhat appropriately given the mass of photographer's present, the youngsters and the Duchess departed for a workshop dealing with media training.

In this the Duchess assumed the role of a sports reporter asking the athletes challenging questions.

She then proved this skill by dealing with the photographers with customary grace before departing back into the Olympic Park.