The Princess of Wales made a surprise announcement this weekend, as she revealed she'd completed a staggering hiking challenge. Taking to Instagram to share a moving personal message, Kate also shared a proud - and soggy! - photo from one of the UK's most iconic summits, proving she'd successfully finished the trail.
'I have taken on the National Three Peaks Challenge, not simply as a physical endeavour but as a chance to explore life beyond diagnosis and to give something back,' the Princess of Wales wrote in a personal message alongside her photo. The challenge involves climbing the highest peaks in Scotland, England and Wales all within 24 hours; Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike and Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon).
In the image, Kate grins despite the grey skies and rain, smiling out from beneath a cap and hooded raincoat with her hiking sticks strapped to her back. Kate followed her first post with a second - a rare direct-to-camera address discussing her motivations for the challenge. The Princess said it was partly personal, as she was 'so grateful to be here, to be strong enough to walk these hills'. But that she also 'wanted to use this opportunity to contribute to the wonderful work that's going on' in the cancer treatment and recovery space. Kate added that she was particularly supporting the Royal Marsden Cancer Charity with the trek, which was 'very dear' to her, having been treated at the Royal Marsden Hospital.
In her personal message, the Princess explained that she also hoped to raise awareness about the impact of cancer and the importance of holistic treatment. 'Holistic therapies complement clinical pathways and support patients’ ability to maintain their wellbeing, resilience and quality of life during an exceptionally difficult time,' she wrote. 'We have an opportunity to reshape what the future of holistic cancer care looks like, enabling more people, nationwide, to access the kind of personalised support that can help make a meaningful difference during and after medical treatment.'
In a rare public show of support, the Princess' brother, James Middleton, commented on Kate's post to show his praise for his sister. In the comments section, her proud brother shared a red love heart and emoji of a mountain, with '⛰️❤️'. Thousands of others liked and commented on the post, with adventurer Bear Grylls calling Kate a 'true Never Give Upper!' and said he had 'huge respect as ever…' for her.
In her initial post, Kate also reflected on the process of healing, saying that it was about more than just 'fixing what is wrong'. Instead, she explained how she believes it's a balance 'between effort and acceptance, between control and trust, between thinking and simply being'. The Princess finished her message with a note about bravery, saying it 'isn’t just about pushing forward. It is about knowing how to stay grounded, connected and present, no matter the terrain or landscape you are walking.'
We know that The Princess' written message came directly from her (rather than being a general message put out by one of her team), as it was signed with her initial, 'C' for Catherine.
