Prince William and Princess Kate took a cruise down memory lane.
On Thursday, March 12, the Prince and Princess of Wales took a cruise along the River Thames in London to highlight the lifesaving work of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution – a throwback to their very first royal engagement together in 2011.
Wearing life jackets and RNLI 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 the busy London waterway.
A statement shared on the Wales’ official Instagram account, run by Kensington Palace, reflected the river’s historic significance. “For centuries the river has been at the heart of London’s life, shaping its society, 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 river rescues and the training behind them, meet volunteer fundraisers and hear from 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 very first public engagement together took place at an RNLI station in Anglesey in February 2011, just months before their wedding. At the time they were helping to launch a lifeboat at Trearddur Bay.
During Thursday’s engagement, the future King and Queen met with RNLI crew members and lifeguards, who help protect those traveling along the River Thames.
Earlier in the day, William and Kate also visited London’s bustling Borough Market before continuing their jaunt through Southwark.
The RNLI, which counts King Charles III as its patron after Queen Elizabeth II, operates 238 lifeboat stations across the UK and Ireland. Four of them are located along the River Thames, with the Tower station alone responding to dozens of emergencies this year.
