Kate Middleton Is Allergic to Polo Ponies

By Simon Perry

01/28/2009 at 08:25 AM EST

Bad news for Prince William: His girlfriend Kate Middleton is unlikely to be joining him in the saddle on his favorite ponies.

Middleton, 27, is allergic to horses, she revealed to a fellow polo fan.

Australian author Kathy Lette, who says that she approached the royal girlfriend at a polo match last summer, told Readers Digest that she spotted Middleton alone in a tent, watching the game with keen interest.

"I've got to pay attention to every second," Middleton told Lette when asked why she didn't come over and join the main party. "I'll be discussing the game in minute detail later on."



Lette also inquired why she didn't play polo herself. Middleton's reply? 'I'm allergic to horses."

William, 26, and Middleton have been dating since 2002, but are often separated by work commitments.

The Prince is currently undergoing training to be a search and rescue pilot, while Middleton is working at her parents' company, Party Pieces.

Saturday, it was revealed that William's brother Harry, 24, had split from his on-again girlfriend Chelsy Davy, 23.