Duchess of Cambridge battles horse allergy to learn to ride

The Duchess of Cambridge has taken up the favourite Royal pastime of riding, disclosing she was learning after finding a passion for horses.

Despite allegedly being allergic to the animals, she told Paralympic medallist Lee Pearson she had now taken up the sport.

Speaking at a Buckingham Palace reception for Olympic and Paralympic athletes, Mr Pearson disclosed he had even offered the Duchess of Cambridge dressage lessons after she confided in him.

Mr Pearson, who won his tenth Paralympic gold medal this year, said: “Kate said she's learning to ride so I offered to give her some lessons.

"She held my medals and said how heavy they were, and asked if me if I'd been riding all my life."

He added he had even given the Duchess advice after the Countess of Wessex made him aware the novice rider was allergic to horses.

“I said ‘so am I - but anti-histimines are wonderful’,” he disclosed.

The Duchess of Cambridge has previously displayed an affinity for horses after admitting she was moved to tears while watching the theatre production War Horse.

She was also seen enthusiastically supporting Zara Phillips at the Olympic Games, as she competed in the equestrian event.

Mr Pearson was just one of the Olympic and Paralympic medallist who spoke to the Duchess and other members of the Royal family at a reception last night.

The Queen, the Duke of Edinburgh, the Duke of York, the Princess Royal, and the Earl and Countess of Wessex, greeted athletes and praised them for their achievements.

David Cameron hailed Great Britain's "incredible summer" of sport as he spoke at the event last night.

Cyclist Jason Kenny said had spent time talking to the Duchess of Cambridge but could not remember a word she said.

"I just spoke to anyone who came up and wanted to talk,” he admitted. “It is amazing and it is something that does not happen every day - that is for sure.

"Everything is a bit of a blur. I was a bit nervous.”

Wheelchair racer Hannah Cockroft admitted that she was "so scared" as she waited in line to speak to the Queen, who commented that her medals must be heavy.

"It is amazing to be here because there are so many people who are dying to meet her,” she said.

"I was told not to talk first so I just sat there smiling at her. I probably looked a bit of a numpty but that was alright because she is a nice lady - can you say that about the Queen?

"It does just finish the Games off nicely. If you know that the top lady in Britain is proud of you, then you must have done pretty good.”

Cyclist Sarah Storey said: "To have the Queen throw a reception in our honour makes everything that has happened even more amazing.

"The British public has been so supportive over the Paralympics and it has captured everybody's imagination."

The Duchess of Cambridge also met 12 members of Team GB's women's hockey team.

Emily Maguire, from Glasgow, said afterwards: "The Duchess just said how much she enjoyed watching our games. She's lovely, she's just so easy to talk to and because she herself played hockey she has a real connection to the sport."