Duchess Catherine and Prince William

Duchess Catherine and Prince William

Britain's Duchess Catherine has been made an Honorary Life Member of Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC).

The Duchess - who was known as Kate Middleton prior to her marriage to Prince William - has been elected, along with her husband, to the world famous sporting institution, of which Queen Elizabeth is the patron.

MCC president David Morgan said: "We are delighted that Their Royal Highnesses The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have accepted our invitation to become honorary life members of MCC.

"This great club has enjoyed an excellent relationship with the Royal Family over the years and long may it continue."

Honorary life membership to the MCC is awarded by the club committee and there are currently more than 300 honorary members, who form a fraction of the 18,000-strong group.

The club only started to accept female members in 1999, in a high-profile move that ended 212 years of male dominance at the world-famous institution based in London.

Other royal members of the club include Prince Philip and Prince Charles.

Prince William and Duchess Catherine, both of whom are 32, indulged in a game of cricket on their royal tour of New Zealand earlier this year.