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Spending much of 2024 going through cancer treatment wasn’t easy for Kate Middleton, but two years later, she’s celebrating her strength — and the people who were there cheering her on every step of the way. On Sunday, Kate shared photos from a major accomplishment she made while raising money for a cancer charity, offering up a rare peek at her family (including her three children) in an emotional moment.
Kate completed the National Three Peaks Challenge in June.
According to the challenge’s official web site, those who attempt it must climb the three highest mountains in Scotland, England, and Wales, which are Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike, and Snowdon, within the same 24 hour period. Since completing the challenge means hiking more than 23 miles and scaling a total of 10,052 feet, it’s quite a feat.
While Kate has always been pretty athletic and outdoorsy, she has been through a lot with her health over the past few years. But she didn’t let that stop her, and she managed to fully complete the challenge at the end of June to raise money for The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity.
The photos she shared with her family really say it all.
On Sunday, Kate shared photos that were taken from when she met her family at Snowdon in Wales, the final peak of her journey. Not only were Prince William and kids George, Charlotte, and Louis there to congratulate her in the sweet moments shared here, but so were Kate’s parents, Carole and Michael, and her brother, James.
“This time last week, completing the National Three Peaks Challenge,” she wrote in the post. “A huge thank you to everybody who has supported The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity.”
Kate’s joy here is palpable, and it’s clear that it was a really beautiful moment for her. In one photo, she’s grinning at an emotional Princess Charlotte, who is covering her face, and in another, she’s got her arm around George’s shoulders while Louis holds her arm.
(Also, when did George get so tall?! He’s going to tower over his mom pretty soon!)
Her brother, James Middleton, completed the challenge with her.
James wasn’t just there to cheer Kate on — he completed the challenge himself right alongside her, which he revealed in an Instagram post was part of a pact they made together while she was undergoing treatment.
Sharing how proud he is of his “darling sister,” James wrote, “Two years ago, I told you we’d climb this mountain together. We talked about climbing mountains while you were in hospital, and about the incredible healing power that nature can have for both the body and the mind.”
He continued, “Seeing how far you’ve come is nothing short of inspiring. Your strength, resilience, and determination, all while being the most amazing mother, wife, daughter, and sister, inspire me and so many others every single day.”
This must have been such a special moment for Kate and her family. Maybe one day her kids will take on the challenge too.
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