Princess of Wales completes Three Peaks Challenge
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The Prince and Princess of Wales have paid tribute to mountain rescue volunteers across the country as Mountain Rescue Awareness Day falls today, coinciding with the clocks going back.
Kensington Palace shared a joint message from William and Catherine expressing their gratitude to those who give up their time to protect people in Britain’s most demanding terrain.
Accompanying the tribute was a previously unseen photograph taken during the Princess’s Three Peaks Challenge earlier this year in June, capturing the royal couple alongside rescue team members in Wales.
The Prince serves as Royal Patron of Mountain Rescue England and Wales.
The newly released image depicts William and Catherine standing with their children at the base of Yr Wyddfa, known in English as Snowdon, surrounded by members of the Llanberis Mountain Rescue Team.
The photograph was taken in June when the Princess undertook her Three Peaks Challenge, during which she took the opportunity to personally thank the Llanberis volunteers for their efforts in safeguarding those who venture into the mountains.
The Llanberis team holds the distinction of being the busiest mountain rescue unit anywhere in the UK, responding to a high volume of incidents on and around Wales’s highest peak throughout the year.
In their message, the couple wrote: “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.”
They reflected on witnessing the “dedication, professionalism and compassion” that characterise the organisation’s work, adding that encounters with local teams during the summer’s Three Peaks Challenge provided a chance to express their appreciation face to face.
“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,” the message continued, before signing off: “W & C.”
Mountain Rescue Awareness Day is intentionally timed to coincide with the annual clock change, when evenings suddenly grow darker and the risk of being caught out on exposed hillsides increases sharply.
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The day serves as a reminder for hillwalkers and climbers to equip themselves properly for winter conditions before setting out, with organisers urging people to carry essential safety kit including a torch.
Rescue teams nationwide are preparing for a rise in emergency call-outs as shorter daylight hours and deteriorating weather catch walkers off guard in the weeks and months ahead.
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