Kate Middleton wears shorts for the first time as a royal

Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge competing on behalf of The Royal Foundation during the prizegiving at the inaugural King's Cup regatta. Photo / Getty Images

The Duchess of Cambridge has shown off her perfectly toned legs in a pair of shorts for the first time since becoming a royal.

In her eight years as a duchess, Kate Middleton had never worn shorts in public.

Photo / Getty Images

In fact, the shorts she wore at the recent charity yachting regatta in Cowes were the first pair of shorts the duchess has worn in public in more than a decade.

Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, greets a young girl at the King's Cup Regatta prize giving. Photo / Getty

Kate, 37, wore navy blue shorts for the regatta which saw her go head-to-head with her husband, Prince William, during the King's Cup event.

She had not been seen in shorts since September 2008, when she attended the Day-Glo Midnight Roller Disco Party in London, three years before marrying Prince William.

Royal fans took to social media to gush over Kate Middleton's legs, which sources say are the result of extreme dedication to exercise.

"Damn Kate Middleton's legs," one person wrote on Twitter.

The royal couple looked happy and carefree during their times a the inaugural Kings Cup regatta in Cowes. Photo / Getty

According to a royal insider who spoke to the Daily Mail, the duchess' legs are the result of a strict exercise regime.

"Kate is an exercise junkie. Pippa and Kate take their toned physiques extremely seriously. And mother Carole, in her 60s, is in extremely good shape," the source said.

Photo / Getty Images

According to royal journalist Ashley Pearson, Kate Middleton is a lot more restricted in what she can wear, compared to the Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle. This is because Kate will one day be queen and, as such, has a stricter dress code to follow.

Catherine's bare legs caused a bit of a stir with royal watchers. Photo / Getty Images