Kate hosts surprise Windsor tea for Three Peaks walkers
Catherine, Princess of Wales — widely known as Kate Middleton — hosted a surprise tea party at Windsor Castle for fellow Three Peaks walkers and their families.
The gathering took place last week. Kensington Palace made it public on Friday 25 September with a personal message from the Princess, signed simply ‘C’, about welcoming the group to the Castle.
The Princess, 44, wore a plum-coloured belted dress with matching heels and her sapphire engagement ring, according to Hello!. She chatted with guests over tea and lemon cake. No formal programme was announced. Just tables, families and time to talk.
The Three Peaks Challenge means climbing the highest mountains in England, Scotland and Wales. The Princess completed her own attempt in June in 24 hours. She took it on for a cancer charity and was greeted by her family at the finish, according to Hola!.
New images of that family reunion were released in early July, as reported by the BBC. The Windsor tea was a reunion of a different kind. It brought together people who had tackled the same gruelling route in very different ways.
Among the guests was Ted Haslam. He completed the challenge in a wheelchair, pushed and carried by his father Pete and 15 family members and friends. He raised money for Molly Ollys, a charity that supports children with serious illness.
Sean McCormick was also invited. He walked as part of a group raising money for his friend’s nephew, who had been diagnosed with cancer. The Palace invited families as well as walkers, so supporters shared in the afternoon.
Then there was Albie-Junior. He finished the challenge in August in around 22 hours to raise money for his local football club. He was born without a fibula, one of the two bones in the lower leg, and had his foot amputated when he was a toddler. He is a fast, determined walker. Twenty-two hours is a sharp time.
Trish Patterson completed the route a few days after the Princess. She ran between the peaks and broke the existing record by nine hours. She raised money for Mind Over Mountains, a charity that runs guided walks in nature to support mental health.
What makes this stand out is the mix around the table. A teenager fundraising for grassroots football. A record-breaker. A family team of 16 carrying a wheelchair up three mountains. The Princess has done the climb herself, so the conversation started from shared sore legs.
