Prince George's secret hobby revealed - and he's being taught by the best

Prince George has picked up a number of sporty hobbies over the years - but there is one he has loved ever since he was very young. And he's even had lessons from a world-class pro

Prince George likes to stay active in his free time and one of his favourite hobbies also has plenty of brain-boosting benefits.

The young royal is known to enjoy playing a number of sports, including rugby, football and triathlon. But he's had a love of tennis ever since he was very little. George is a big fan of the game, whether he's playing it at home at Anmer Hall, or watching it from the royal box at Wimbledon. And he's even had lessons from champion player Roger Federer.

George has inherited his love of tennis from Princess Kate, patron of the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club. She is good friends with Roger; so much so, the Swiss tennis player even attended her sister Pippa's wedding to James Matthews in 2017. And Roger previously revealed he was invited to Carole and Michael Middleton’s home to give the second-in-line to the throne a tennis lesson.

"At that stage it's all about just touching the ball, it's already good. Same with my boys," dad-of-four Roger said. "I think I have a little advantage that I actually spent some time, you know, with him. I'm the only player he's ever met. Then you have a little head start on who is your favourite player."

Revealing his hopes that George will maintain his enthusiasm for the sport as he grows up, Roger added: "I love to see that they're into tennis or into sports ... his mum has always enjoyed tennis... I hope that he'll still say the same in a few years' time." As well as helping to keep active and healthy, tennis also offers a huge number of mental benefits.

A study by sporting brand ASICS previously revealed that tennis players, no matter their ability to play the game or length of time playing, are more focused and energised when compared with non-tennis players, and they are 26% more positive in their attitude. On top of this, they are also better able to cope with stress - which is a great attribute for George in light of his mother and grandfather's cancer diagnoses, and the weight of his important future royal role.

Tim Benjamin of audio fitness app WithU previously told HELLO!: "Tennis based-workouts are a great way of developing all-around fitness: cardio, speed, agility and balance. Many people think that tennis simply relies on your arms and wrists. In reality, the movements and actions in tennis require your whole body. Even actions that seem simple at first, like hitting a ball, require your whole body to be in sync," he explained.

Back in 2017 during a visit to the Lawn Tennis Association, Kate revealed that George had started to learn how to play tennis. At the time she asked LTA coach Sam Richardson for advice and he later disclosed: "She says with George just being four he wants to whack a ball, so she was asking what sort of stuff she should be doing. They will struggle at that age to hit a ball. She said he's interested in it, but more in whacking the ball."

Sam also revealed that Kate had also been getting tips from Andy Murray's mother, Judy. He said: "She said she spoke to Judy Murray and she suggested taking away the racket and do more of the basic stuff, which is absolutely right. But four-year-old boys want to swing the racket around!"