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Kate was seen looking at the cockpit before climbing down stairs in heels

READ MORE: High-heeled highness! How Kate masters stilettos, wedges and blocks as she takes on the world (and makes it look easy!)

By GINA KALSI, FEMAIL REPORTER and REBECCA ENGLISH, ROYAL EDITOR

Published: 10:14 BST, 3 October 2025 | Updated: 10:14 BST, 3 October 2025

The Princess of Wales left royal fans ‘in awe’ after she effortlessly climbed down narrow stairs after peering into a cockpit during her visit to Lincolnshire on Thursday.

Kate, 43, appeared in high spirits as she visited RAF Coningsby and tried her hand at the base’s flight simulator, impressing onlookers with her ‘natural skills’.

She put her best fashion foot forward, donning a chic Bella Freud grey check suit, which she paired with a top from Alexander McQueen.

But she also amazed observers with her ability to flawlessly strut up and down an aircraft’s boarding stairs in her navy stilettos from Stuart Weitzman.

The mother-of-three smoothly walked up without looking at the steps in the almost four-inch heels, following an RAF pilot into the cockpit of a fully armed Quick Reaction Alert Typhoon.

After she had finished peering into the plane, Kate then followed the pilot, perfectly climbing the narrow stairs backwards without stumbling.

Fans reacted to the clip on X, with some writing that they were ‘in awe’ of the Princess’s ability to confidently walk up and down stairs with ease in high heels, where many struggle to simply keep their balance on the ground.

One wrote: ‘I wear high heels all the time and no, I wouldn’t have done that so seamlessly and graciously.’

Kate amazed fans with her ability to flawlessly strut up and down an aircraft’s boarding stairs in her navy stilettos from Stuart Weitzman

Another penned: ‘She owned those stairs like a runway. Pure elegance with power in every step.’

A third said: ‘In reverse, in heels, and still a masterclass in elegance,’ while a fourth commented: ‘She’s so naturally elegant.’

Kate is known for her spectacular ability to not only stroll with ease in pumps, but also dabble in different sports while elevated in height, having shown off hockey and volleyball skills in high heels on occasion.

The future Queen even manages to maintain composure while wearing pumps on grass, at events like polo matches and horse racing events such as Royal Ascot.

Among the brands Kate favours are Emmy London, located in Chelsea, from which she owns 16 pairs of handmade footwear which features a single crystal on each sole.

In 2023, Kate was hailed for her poise by royal fans after she was filmed disembarking a helicopter gracefully – in heels.

She made a visit to the Royal Navy Air Station in Yeovilton, and was filmed hopping out of the chopper without any assistance.

She also barely broke a sweat as she took part in a spin class competition with her husband, Prince William, in 2023.

On Thursday, the Princess carried out her first visit to the Lincolnshire station in her role as Royal Honorary Air Commodore, having been appointed to the role in August 2023

Fans reacted to the clip on X, with some writing that they were ‘in awe’ of the Princess’s ability to confidently walk up and down stairs with ease in high heels

After the 45-second race – in which Kate asked if she could turn the bike’s resistance up and ‘make it harder’ – the shocked princess was declared the winner of the ‘Tour de Aberavon’ and handed a small trophy.

On Thursday, the Princess carried out her first visit to the Lincolnshire station in her role as Royal Honorary Air Commodore, having been appointed to the role in August 2023.

She tied back her newly lightened blonde locks for an elegant, yet practical look during the engagement – and at one point even performed a virtual ‘loop the loop’ manoeuvre on a flight simulator.

She shared how her youngest son Louis is keen to become a fighter pilot, but added: ‘I’m going to tell them (her children) it takes eight years and a lot of hard work!’

Speaking to children afterwards, she also apologised to some of the youngsters for not wearing a dress for her visit.

She began her visit with a private briefing from Group Captain Paul O’Grady, Station Commander and Warrant Officer Nikki Nolan, Station Warrant Officer on the past 18 months of activity.

She began her visit with a private briefing from Group Captain Paul O’Grady, Station Commander and Warrant Officer Nikki Nolan, Station Warrant Officer on the past 18 months of activity.

The Princess appeared engrossed as he pointed out military hardware including missiles attached bellow the wings.

‘Would you like a go?’ he asked, to which she replied: ‘Yes, I’d love to.’

Inside she told him she had not used a simulator to fly a plane before, but had tried one used to train helicopter pilots.

But the Princess seemed to take to her simulated flight with ease and appeared to enjoy her virtual climb from RAF Coningsby enough to perform the aerobatic stunt.

The princess ‘flew’ around the Lincolnshire countryside with the North Sea ahead and, at one point, appeared to perform a loop-the-loop manoeuvre.

Speaking afterwards, Group Captain Paul O’Grady said: ‘She seems to be a natural pilot so we might have to get her qualified and get her flying a Typhoon, if she’s up for it.’

The Princess of Wales impressed onlookers with her ‘natural’ skills as she took to a virtual flight simulator at RAF Coningsby on Thursday – and even revealed her son Prince Louis ‘s sky-high ambitions

At one point, Kate, 43, performed a virtual ‘loop the loop’ manoeuvre on a flight simulator during her visit to the Lincolnshire base

The Princess, who wore an RAF badge on her blazer, also chatted to two trainee pilots on secondment from RAF Valley, where Prince William was stationed Between 2010 and 2013.

‘How are you finding Valley?’ she asked Jack Hanby and Dan McPhail.

They told her they had met the Prince when he returned to Anglesey last year.

Prince William, who served there as an RAF Search and Recue pilot, previously served as Honorary Air Commandant at Coningsby.

The princess has had a long family association with the RAF. Her paternal grandfather Peter Middleton was an RAF fighter pilot who served in World War II and later as Prince Philip’s co-pilot during a two-month tour of South America in 1962.

In ‘The Lounge’ – a communal space for those living at the station – she met Wing Commander Nick Startup, Officer Commanding, Base Support Wing and members of RAF Coningsby’s Welfare Team, and personnel including aviators from Junior Ranks, to hear about their roles and experiences on site.

She was presented with three toy Typhoons and key rings for her children, saying: ‘They will be very upset that I’ve seen a Typhoon without them!’

Upon receiving the gift, she said her three children would ‘absolutely love’ them, according to Lincolnshire Live.

She was also given a cup of tea by staff and was clearly impressed, saying: ‘It’s a very good cup of tea.’

The Princess was mobbed by toddlers as she took part in a length walkabout to meet families living on and around the base.

Crouching down to chat to them, she laughed as one little girl made a grab for her RAF badge and then her watch. which she seemed to want for herself.

‘Maybe you could put it on your Christmas list? Maybe you can ask Father Christmas?’ Kate suggested.

Admiring some of the little girls’ ‘princess’ dresses, she said: ‘Where’s my dress? If I had known..’

She told another little girl: ‘I’m sorry I didn’t wear my dress today. Thank you for coming to see me.’

When another child held out her arms for a hug, she happily accepted, telling her: ‘Thank you – I love hugs!’

Despite having arrived an hour late due to bad weather, the Princess was in no hurry to leave and spent around 20 minutes shaking hands and chatting to some of the 700 families who live on or around the base.

Paul O’GradyRoyalsKate Middleton

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Kate Middleton leaves royal fans ‘in awe’ as she effortlessly climbs down aircraft boarding stairs backwards in heels

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