Photos of Kate And Other Royals Supporting Ballet Through The Years

Diana's surprise turn on stage is the stuff of legend at this point, but in general, the Windsors are more likely to attend a performance than to star in one. Here, 28 photos that take a look back at the royal family's history of supporting the ballet.

Sophie, Countess of Wessex unveils a plaque at the opening of the Countess of Wessex Studios at the Central School of Ballet.

Camilla meets a young dancer during her visit to Elmhurst Ballet School in Birmingham, of which she is a patron.

Prince Charles and Camilla pose with ballet dancers during a visit to the Acosta Dance Company during their tour of Havana, Cuba. They are the first British royals to ever make an official visit to the country.

Duchess Kate watches Royal Ballet principal dancers Lauren Cuthbertson and Vadim Muntagirov rehearsing the romantic ballet "The Two Pigeons" during her visit to the Royal Opera House.

Here is Duchess Kate is having a laugh with some of the dancers.

The scene of Kate in her fuchsia skirt suit was reminiscent of this photo of Princess Diana surrounded by ballerinas at the English National Ballet's 1997 production of Swan Lake.

The Duke and Duchess of Cornwall pose with students of Elmhurst Ballet School.

Princess Margaret's daughter, Lady Sarah Chatto clearly inherited her mother's love of ballet. She currently serves as Vice President of the Royal Ballet.

Prince Charles greets young dancers from the Elmhurst Ballet school during a visit to reopen Birmingham's town hall in 2008.

Queen Elizabeth ascends a staircase lined with ballerinas while visiting the Royal Albert Hall in 2004.

Prince Charles currently serves as the President of the Royal Ballet. Here is is watching a lesson at the organizations's White Lodge School in Richmond Park in 2004.

Prince Charles talks to pupils at the White Lodge School after observing their lesson.

Prince Charles is clearly enjoying himself as he speaks with ballet dancers Darcey Bussell and Carlos Acosta at the Royal Opera House in 2004.

Margaret engages in conversation with ballerina Darcey Bussell after a performance in 1998.

The Queen visits with dancers from "Sleeping Beauty" at the Royal Opera House in 1996.

In her role as patron of the English National Ballet, Princess Diana attends a performance of "Alice in Wonderland" in 1996.

Princess Diana shares a smile with a young dancer while visiting the London headquarters of the English National Ballet in December of 1995.

It isn't just the English ballet companies that interest the royals. For example, here is Diana with dancers during a visit to Paris.

Princess Diana meeting with members of the Bolshoi Ballet during her visit to Moscow in 1995.

Princess Diana speaks with dancer Rudolph Nureyev at the Royal Opera House.

Princess Margaret was a lifelong ballet enthusiast. Here she is making introductions as the president of the Royal Ballet in 1993.

A young Queen Elizabeth II appears here with Rudolph Nureyev and Dame Margot Fonteyn in 1969.

Ballet dancer Rudolf Nureyev accompanies Princess Margaret down the stairs of the Royal Academy of Dancing in Knightsbridge in 1968.

Princess Margaret and Lithuanian-born ballerina Svetlana Beriosova chat backstage at the Adelphi Theatre gala in 1968.

Queen Elizabeth receives a curtsy from a young dancer from the Winnipeg Ballet during her royal tour of Canada in 1951.

The Queen mother was also a patron of the arts. Here she is at the opening of Covent Garden Royal Opera House in 1946.

A rare photo of then-Princess Elizabeth attending the ballet with her sister, parents, and grandmother. This was taken at the reopening of the Royal Opera House at the end of World War II.

The Queen Mother speaks with dancers after a 1939 gala performance at the Royal Opera House.