The Prince and Princess of Wales posted a new family photo on Instagram to mark Mountain Rescue Awareness Day. It was taken after Catherine finished her Three Peaks Challenge in June.
The picture shows the family at the foot of Snowdon, with Catherine in the middle. Prince William has his hands on the shoulders of their youngest son, Prince Louis. Princess Charlotte and Prince George, who began at Eton College last month, stand beside their mother.
The caption was signed “W & C”. “On Mountain Rescue Awareness Day, we send our heartfelt thanks to all those who volunteer their time and expertise to keep people safe in some of our most beautiful but challenging landscapes,” it said. It went on to say that meeting local rescue teams during the challenge gave them a chance to thank volunteers in person. “We are incredibly proud to support the extraordinary volunteers who respond in all conditions, often at a moment’s notice, to help others when they need it most.”
Catherine climbed Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike and Snowdon, the highest mountains in Scotland, England and Wales, inside 24 hours. She raised money for the Royal Marsden Cancer Charity, linked to the hospital that treated her. She said in 2024 that she was having cancer treatment, and that she was in remission at the start of this year.
A chat with Ted on Ben Nevis
On Ben Nevis she stopped to talk to Ted Haslam, an 11-year-old paraplegic boy from Sutton Coldfield. His father Pete and 14 other friends and relatives took turns pushing and carrying him up in his wheelchair.
“How are you doing, Ted? You’re not too cold?” she asked, joking that it was “not great weather”. She spotted a mascot and asked its name. One of Ted’s team explained it belonged to Molly Ollys, a charity that supplied play equipment while he was in hospital.
“Have you been up here before?” she asked. “Never, it’s my first time,” Ted said. “Well it’s such a shame you can’t see any of the views,” Catherine replied. “I’m so impressed, really, you’ve made it to the second peak. Super, well done you. We’ll be cheering you on.”
She later gave privately to Ted’s fundraiser for Molly Ollys. On his JustGiving page she wrote that meeting people like him was “one of the real highlights” of the challenge, and signed it “C.” Ted and other Three Peaks participants were later guests at a reception at Windsor Castle.
