The Princess of Wales surprised us all by completing a staggering trek, announcing last week that she'd taken on and completed the National Three Peaks Challenge. At the end of her arduous journey, her husband, Prince William, and three children were there to congratulate her, alongside her parents and brother. And it was Princess Charlotte, in particular, who had the most moving response to her mum's amazing achievement as they were reunited.
The Three Peaks Challenge involves summiting the tallest peaks in England, Scotland and Wales; Scafell Pike, Ben Nevis and Snowdon, within 24 hours. It's an impressive feat to manage and, at the finish line, Kate's family were waiting to celebrate. In new photographs shared to the Prince and Princess of Wales' official instagram account, Kate can be seen wrapped in a tight hug with her only daughter, Princess Charlotte, who appears overwhelmed with emotion (slides five and six in the post below).
Prince George (who is now almost as tall as his mum!) and Prince Louis were also there to congratulate Kate, alongside their dad, Prince William. The final shot in the post, however, reveals a rare 'Middletons only' gathering of supporters, with Kate's side of the family waiting to congratulate her; mum Carole, dad Michael and brother James. The presence of her own close family members demonstrates just how personal the challenge was to the Princess, something James Middleton expanded on in a proud post of him own.
He explained how the idea for the trek had grown from discussion he and Kate had had while she was still in hospital, and how it was 'nothing short of inspiring' to see how far Kate had come since then. 'Two years ago, I told you we’d climb this mountain together,' he wrote. 'We talked about climbing mountains while you were in hospital, and about the incredible healing power that nature can have for both the body and the mind.' He said it had been an 'honour' to join her on the expedition and that his sister inspired him every day.
In a personal post of her own on social media, Kate explained that she decided to undergo the challenge, 'not simply as a physical endeavour but as a chance to explore life beyond diagnosis and to give something back.' The Princess was raising money for the Royal Marsden Cancer Charity, which is connected to the hospital she received cancer treatment at. In the process, she added she wanted to 'raise awareness for the deeper impact of serious illness and the importance of holistic healthcare.'
For more information on the Princess' challenge or to donate, visit the dedicated website here.
