Earlier this year, the Princess of Wales surprised us all by revealing she had completed an arduous physical challenge to raise money for a charity close to her heart. Now, the Princess has released a powerful personal message, after gathering others together who participated in the same challenge.
Back in June, the Princess of Wales announced that she had completed the National Three Peaks Challenge, which involves summiting the highest mountain in England (Ben Nevis), Scotland (Scafell Pike) and Wales (Snowdon / Yr Wyddfa), usually within 24 hours.
Sharing why she took the challenge on in her own words, Kate said she wanted to do it 'not simply as a physical endeavour but as a chance to explore life beyond diagnosis and to give something back.' This involved raising money for The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity, connected to the hospital which treated the Princess following her own cancer diagnosis. 'The Royal Marsden is a place that holds great meaning for me and whose care and expertise are life changing for so many people,' she said at the time.
Now, Kate has brought together other participants of the Three Peaks Challenge by inviting them and their families to a special reception at Windsor Castle. In a new personal message, which she shared to her offical social media channel alongside a video of the day, Kate explained why she hosted the event. 'Behind every summit was a personal story of resilience, determination and hope,' she said. The stories, Kate wrote, were a 'powerful reminder that recovery is rarely a journey we make alone, and of the importance of the people who walk alongside us along the way.'
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.
When Kate completed her challenge, her family were there for an emotional reunion to celebrate. Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis waiting to congratulate Kate, alongside their dad, Prince William. Kate's mum Carole, dad Michael and brother James Middleton (who took on the challenge with her) were also there in support.
In his own post, James revealed that the idea for the challenge was sparked while Kate was in hospital, making it a hugely personal milestone for her own recovery journey.
