Prince William and Princess Kate took a boat trip down memory lane.
On Thursday, March 12, the Prince and Princess of Wales took a boat trip on the River Thames in London to highlight the lifesaving work of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution, a throwback to their first royal engagement together in 2011.
Wearing RNLI lifejackets and caps, the Prince and Princess of Wales boarded a lifeboat and took turns at the wheel as they traveled under the iconic Tower Bridge while learning more about the charity’s work on London’s busy waterway.
A statement shared on the official Welsh Instagram account, managed by Kensington Palace, reflected on the historical importance of the river. “For centuries, the river has been at the heart of London’s life, shaping its communities, its commerce and the stories people tell about the city, from folk traditions to modern London.”
The statement continued: “It was wonderful to meet the RNLI crews to hear first-hand about the river rescues and the training behind them, meet the fundraising volunteers and hear from the lifesavers preparing for the university boat race.”
The visit had a special meaning for the couple, who will celebrate 15 years of marriage in April. Their first public engagement together took place at an RNLI station in Anglesey in February 2011, just months before their wedding. At that time, they helped launch a lifeboat in Trearddur Bay.
During Thursday’s engagement, the future king and queen met members of the RNLI crew and lifeguards who help protect those traveling on the Thames.
Earlier in the day, William and Kate also visited London’s bustling Borough Market before continuing their excursion through Southwark.
The RNLI, which counts King Charles III as its patron after Queen Elizabeth II, operates 238 lifeboat stations across the United Kingdom and Ireland. Four of them are located along the Thames, with Tower station alone responding to dozens of emergencies this year.
