Prince William and Catherine always appear loved-up and highly professional during public engagements – but have you ever wondered what they’re like away from the cameras?
According to Sydney Horsted, a lead lifeguard supervisor at the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI), the couple is just the same behind-the-scenes as when they’re in the spotlight.
The Prince and Princess of Wales visited the RNLI’s Tower Lifeboat Station last Thursday to hear about the vital work of staff and volunteers on the River Thames. They were seen laughing together as they boarded an E-class lifeboat with volunteers, before bringing the crew cakes and cookies from their morning in Borough Market.
Sydney, who spent time with the couple during their visit, said: “They were just a normal couple, really happy. They were completely down to earth, really interested and really engaged in what we were doing.
Photo: © Andrew Parsons / Kensington Palace
“There was a lot of laughter and a lot of humour involved with the day. It’s really nice of them to come down and get involved, and see what we’re doing from the lifeboat and lifeguard perspective. It was a really positive, nice day for everyone involved.”
Sydney was part of a team of four from the lifeguard service at the visit, and was on a smaller Arancia-class rescue boat next to the Prince and Princess as they sailed down the Thames.
Adding that their boat ride looked faster than it actually was, she said Catherine and William “looked really happy, they were smiling and really enjoying it”. “Yes, there were lots of smiles,” she told us.
A very sweet gesture
Earlier in the day, William, 43, and Catherine, 44, paid a surprise visit to Borough Market, where they made coffees and chopped cheese – though the Princess’s hot beverage was turned away by her husband due to not being decaf.
Joining the lifeboat crew in the afternoon, Catherine and William brought along some sweet treats from their time in the market.
Sydney said: “They had a cup of tea and some cake with the lifeboat crew members. There were some cookies, some carrot cake and some cinnamon rolls.”
During their conversation, Sydney spoke with the royals about water safety on the Thames and how it is different from being on the beach. They also discussed the upcoming boat race between Oxford and Cambridge and the safety protocols the RNLI has in place.
She said: “They were super interested. I know they’re really keen supporters of the RNLI as well. They had a few questions and really liked hearing about our statistics and a bit of safety advice too.”
It was a busy and packed day, with crowds turning up from first thing in the morning in the hope of catching a glimpse of royalty. “There were a few people waiting there from first thing in the morning while they were setting up for the day and waiting for them,” Sydney added. “They were very keen to meet them.”
Full circle moment
The outing marked a full-circle moment for the royal couple, as their first-ever official engagement was connected to the charity. During the February 2011 outing in Anglesey, North Wales, they dedicated a new RNLI lifeboat, called the ‘Hereford Endeavour’.
Catherine christened the lifeboat by pouring a bottle of champagne over the boat, before they joined crowds to sing a rendition of “God save the Queen”. It came just three months before their wedding, when the couple was newly engaged.
