People News

Duchess Catherine cheers Team GB's hockey players to victory

Aug 11, 2012, 10:01 GMT

Duchess Catherine

Britain's Duchess Catherine was all smiles as she cheered Team GB's Olympic hockey team to victory yesterday (10.08.12).

The 30-year-old royal - who was captain of the hockey team when she was a pupil at Marlborough College - watched on in delight as the British women's hockey team won their first Olympic medal for 20 years after defeating New Zealand 3-1 to win a bronze at the Riverbank Arena in Stratford, east London.

After the game Catherine - who was known as Kate Middleton prior to her nuptials with Prince William last year - congratulated the players and commented on the great atmosphere in the stadium.

She told them: 'Well done, I really enjoyed the game and the atmosphere.'

Team GB hockey star Alex Danson - who netted the first goal of the match - revealed the duchess' support made her 'proud to be British'.

She told MailOnline: 'She came to see us afterwards and said congratulations.

'She said she desperately wanted to be a part of it today and see us get that win, which we're just so proud that we were able to do.

'She used to play hockey at school and she's got a hockey background so she could probably give us some tips.

'Her support has meant so much. To have Kate here makes me feel so proud to be British.'

The event was Catherine's 19th Olympic engagement since the London 2012 Games began late last month, and she has seen Team GB win 10 medals in total.

The brunette beauty sat alongside William to witness Queen Elizabeth's granddaughter Zara Phillips take silver in the eventing competition and earlier this week she saw Team GB's female boxer Nicola Adams win gold at the ExCel centre.