Kate Middleton And Prince William Try Land Surfing

May 27, 2021 by apost team

A decade ago, Prince William and Kate Middleton exchanged vows in front of the world at Westminster Abbey. The heavily publicized wedding prompted street parties across England, William and Middleton merchandise and plenty of speculation about how the royal couple would navigate their roles as the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. The couple is particularly prominent in the royal family given that William is second in line to the throne after his father, Prince Charles, the Duke of Wales.

At the time of Middleton and William’s marriage, the couple had been together for eight years, after having started dating at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland, where the two completed their undergraduate degrees. Since then, the Cambridge couple has been busy building a family, including 3-year-old Prince Louis, 5-year-old Princess Charlotte and 7-year-old Prince George.

Although the honeymoon phase is long over for the couple, photos from a May 26 trip to Fife, Scotland, where the couple met 20 years ago, show that the duke and duchess still know how to have fun together. While they participated in a number of activities in Fife, which is where the University of St. Andrews is located, the one everybody is talking about is land surfing. The unusual sport involves stepping into a wind-powered buggy that’s affixed with a large sail. William and Middleton are known for their competitive streak, and so they naturally went head-to-head, racing down West Sands beach. While they didn’t stay on the beach for too long, the couple clearly had a blast, as they had smiles on their faces nearly the entire time.

The Fife Young Carers, a charitable organization that helps young people look after family members who are ill or have a disability, organized the activity for the prince and his wife. The activity is fitting, given that the Fife Young Carers run “fortnightly or monthly respite group sessions” that allow young carers to unwind through outdoor activities like racing in land yachts. 

According to Hello! Magazine, there were more than 6,000 young carers in Fife, which means that one in eight youth has had a caring-giving role at some point. Wednesday’s trip to Fife saw Middleton and William speak to members of the charity on the beach in addition to having some fun racing each other with the wind-powered buggies. 

"I want to go faster. I need to make sure I’ve got the right angle," William told twins Jamie and Guy McKenzie, the owners of the land surfing company.

"Wahoo!" the prince yelled as he picked up speed on the sand.

"I'm catching you!" Middleton shouted, laughing.

While it’s hard to say for sure, it appears that Middleton won the race, though we’re sure William will get his chance next time.

The night before their land surfing outing, William and Middleton spent the night in St. Andrews, where they enjoyed a meal at Forgan’s restaurant in town. The couple also revisited the place where they first met in 2001: the University of St. Andrews campus.

According to Town & Country, Middleton met William at the University of St. Andrew’s, where the two enrolled in 2001.

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In one of the most famous stories from their university days, the prince famously watched a charity fashion show that featured none other than Middleton herself. The relationship moved fairly quickly, with the two moving in together in a shared flat, but it wasn’t until 2004 that the couple’s relationship was out in the open. It was then that someone from the press snapped a photo of the two together while they were on a ski trip, which led to widespread knowledge of the two’s once private relationship.

But the royal couple’s relationship wasn’t always a bed of roses.

In 2007, the two even separated for a short period of time, according to Town & Country.

"At the time I wasn't very happy about it, but it made me a stronger person," Middleton revealed in a television interview, according to The Guardian. "You find out things about yourself that maybe you hadn't realized, I think you can get quite consumed by a relationship when you are younger and I really valued that time for me (the months apart) although I didn't think it at the time."

With that said, it didn’t take long for the couple to get back together. A year after their break up, William and Middleton were spotted on another ski trip, and just two years later, the couple announced their engagement.

"You know, over the years William has looked after me,” Middleton said of her relationship to the prince. “He's treated me very well — as the loving boyfriend he is, he is very supportive of me through the good times and also through the bad times."

What do you think of the couple’s attempt at land surfing? Have you ever heard of the sport before? Let us know — and be sure to pass this story on to friends and family members.