A hiker on Ben Nevis says he was left speechless after realizing the woman climbing near him during the National Three Peaks Challenge was the Princess of Wales.
Jacky Leung wrote on Instagram that he first noticed two camera operators on the mountain before spotting what he described as a “very lean female hiker” moving uphill. As she got closer, he realized it was Princess Kate.
LBC reported that Kate stopped during the climb and asked Leung if he was all right. He told her he was waiting for friends. She then asked whether he had made it to the top.
When Leung said he had, Kate told him, “Well done!”
Princess Kate Stopped to Talk on Ben Nevis
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Leung wrote that he “could not respond with any proper names to greet her” when he realized who was walking near him.
He told followers that Kate “power walked” up the hill and moved with “a very strong spirit,” according to LBC. He also said many people on the mountain did not appear to recognize her as she passed.
Leung replied to Kate by telling her she was inspiring. He later wrote that completing the Three Peaks Challenge in 24 hours was “a serious test of grit.”
Kate Also Stopped for an 11-Year-Old Boy on the Mountain
Kate also spoke with Ted Haslam, an 11-year-old from Sutton Coldfield who was being pushed and carried up Ben Nevis by a team of 15 friends and relatives.
LBC reported that Ted was left paralyzed at age 3 after being diagnosed with an aggressive spinal tumor. His team was climbing to raise money for Molly Ollys, a charity that provided play equipment for him while he was in hospital.
Kate told Ted she was impressed and wished him luck with the rest of the challenge. “We’ll be cheering you on,” she said, according to LBC.
She Completed the Three Peaks Challenge in 24 Hours
Every year, hundreds of thousands of people in this country hear the words no one wants to hear. What follows is a path that tests every part of who we are: physically, emotionally, psychologically and spiritually. The challenges ripple outwards, touching families, friendships,… pic.twitter.com/aCkGZBbmWy
— The Prince and Princess of Wales (@KensingtonRoyal) June 28, 2026
The Princess of Wales completed the National Three Peaks Challenge over the weekend to raise money for The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity.
ITV News reported that she climbed Ben Nevis in Scotland, Scafell Pike in England and Snowdon in Wales within 24 hours after starting Saturday evening.
Reuters reported that Kate completed the challenge solo, with support from Mountain Rescue. At the end, she was greeted by Prince William, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, Prince Louis, her parents Carole and Michael Middleton and her brother James Middleton.
The Challenge Raised Money for the Hospital Where She Was Treated
Kate said the challenge was personal. In her message, she wrote that she took it on “not simply as a physical endeavour” but as a chance to explore life beyond diagnosis and give something back.
“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 wrote, according to ITV News.
The challenge covered 23 miles, included more than 10,000 feet of ascent and required 462 miles of driving between the three peaks, according to ITV News.
Kate Said Cancer Recovery Takes More Than Medicine
Kate wrote that serious illness affects the body, mind, family life, work and private moments.
She said she wanted the fundraiser to support holistic cancer care, including emotional and practical support alongside medical treatment.
The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity said its National Three Peaks Challenge asks participants to take on the highest peaks in England, Scotland and Wales and complete them within 24 hours.
Money raised through Kate’s challenge will support wider access to holistic care and research into how that support can work with clinical cancer treatment, according to ITV News.