The Princess of Wales was in close proximity to a mountain rescue operation on Ben Nevis last week, according to reports.
While Catherine was nearing the 4,413-foot summit, an 87-year-old blind military veteran, John Banfield, required assistance further down the mountain. Banfield, an ex-soldier from Milton Keynes, had successfully climbed Ben Nevis on Armed Forces Day to raise funds for the charity Blind Veterans UK. Guided by RAF veteran Gary Thomas, he reached the summit in five and a half hours. However, at Half Way Lochan, Banfield became exhausted and was assisted off the mountain by two members of the Lochaber Mountain Rescue Team (MRT) using an all-terrain vehicle.
At the time of the rescue, Catherine was more than 2,000 feet higher on the mountain, accompanied by two other members of the Lochaber MRT. Deputy team leader Astie Cameron stated that the Princess would have been aware of the rescue due to radio communication among the team.
Cameron described Catherine as "absolutely amazing," noting that she completed her climb in just under five hours. This achievement was particularly significant given her ongoing cancer treatment.
Catherine's climb was part of a larger "Three Peaks challenge," which involves ascending the highest peaks in England, Scotland, and Wales within a 24-hour period. She described the challenge as an opportunity to "explore life beyond diagnosis and to give something back."
Photos from the Welsh summit of Yr Wyddfa, released on social media over the weekend, included a message of gratitude to supporters of The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity. The princess expressed her appreciation for the charity, calling it "a place that holds great meaning for me and whose care and expertise are life changing for so many people."