Kate Middleton taught George and Charlotte this incredible skill over summer vacation

Kate Middleton taught Prince George and Princess Charlotte a valuable skill this summer, according to a royal insider.

• Kate Middleton gave Prince George and Princess George lessons on one of her favorite pastimes over the summer, according to a royal source. 
• Kate and William enjoyed an outdoorsy summer break in Norfolk with their three children in August, after visiting the Queen during her annual vacation at Balmoral Castle. 
• In other royal news, this teenage photo of Kate Middleton and Prince William has royal fans fawning.
  

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge may not have been able to travel abroad with their family this summer, but that didn't stop them from making the most of their staycation in the UK. 

Prince William and Kate Middleton reportedly whisked their three children, George, Charlotte, and Louis, away to Amner Hall in August, where they enjoyed a whole host of fun outdoor activities - one of which was led by the future Queen herself. 

Kate was spotted sharing her passion for sailing with her two older children by a Norfolk local, who was understandably delighted to see the senior royals on her home waters. According to the eagle-eyed royal fan, Kate and Will looked like "very much a family of sailors" with George, 8, and Charlotte, 6, learning the ropes on a small boat on the North Sea over the course of a few days. 

The rare sighting comes just a few days after it was confirmed that the Cambridges paid the Queen a highly-anticipated visit at her Scottish residence of Balmoral Castle for her first summer holiday since Prince Philip died aged 99. 

"They have enjoyed some wonderful time on the coast this summer sailing and showing the children how to steer and sail a boat," the source told royal expert Katie Nicholl. 

As well as learning the craft of sailing, Kate and Will's kids also took the opportunity to work on their swimming skills while at sea. With Buckingham Palace's pool just a 15 minutes drive from their family home of Kensington Palace, George and Charlotte have had plenty of access to watersports facilities throughout their childhood.

"They love the water and the two eldest are good swimmers and had no qualms about jumping into the sea even if it was a bit fresh," the source added. 

When they weren't on the boat, the Cambridges were reportedly playing in the sand and splashing in the waves. "They are clearly a family that loves being outdoors and in nature. It was lovely to see them playing so freely and not being bothered by anyone," they said.

Unfortunately for George and Charlotte, it looks like their free-spirited summer is finally coming to an end. The two are set to return to their posh private school in London on 9 September, where adventurous sailing trips are sadly not on the curriculum. They'll also have to ditch their comfy civvies and embrace a more formal attire for the next few months. Prince George and Princess Charlotte's strict school uniform rules require them to wear a regulation navy outfit, with crowns and tiaras completely off-limits. What can we say, it's not easy being royal.