Prince William praises significant milestone for 'inspiring' cause Princess Diana helped launch

Prince William has praised Swimathon UK on their 40th anniversary, as the Prince of Wales took to social media to mark the milestone.

Princess Diana played a key role in launching the charity, which has now inspired hundreds of thousands of people to take on swimming challenges in the last 40 years.

The charity is marking the occasion by hosting the annual fundraising event in over 450 pools across the UK between March 20 and 22.

In his message, the Prince of Wales said: “Congratulations to Swimathon UK on 40 years of bringing people together through swimming. It’s so inspiring to see hundreds of thousands of people taking part while raising millions for life-changing charities. W.”

William has been an ambassador for Swim England since 2017, and has always been a keen swimmer, captaining his water polo team at university.

The first nationwide Swimathlon took place in 1988, and it was launched with Olympic gold medalist Duncan Goodhew, Princess Diana played a key role in getting the campaign off the ground and grew the charity into what it is today.

The announcement marked the end of a busy week for the Prince and Princess of Wales who were seen out and about in London.

The royal couple began at Borough Market, one of the capital's oldest and most celebrated food destinations, renowned for its commitment to high-quality, sustainably sourced produce from Britain and beyond.

During their Borough Market visit, the Prince and Princess spent time with several traders who exemplify the market's diverse offerings.

They met the Trethowan Brothers, an award-winning family business crafting small-batch traditional cheeses, whose presence at the market dates back to 1998.

The royal couple also engaged with Change Please, a social enterprise that helps homeless individuals through barista training and comprehensive support services.

Their final stop was Humble Crumble, a London dessert company that has expanded from a single market stall to multiple venues while building a substantial social media presence.

Following the visit to Borough Market, the Prince and Princess of Wales paid a visit to the lifeboat station of the Royal National Lifeboats Institution (RNLI) Tower, one of four lifeboat stations along the Thames.

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The couple whizzed along the river as they journeyed past the Tower of London.

William and Catherine wrapped up in thick yellow jackets, along with life vests and baseball caps.

The Prince and Princess of Wales heard about how the RNLI provides training and support to their team, as well as all necessary equipment.

William and Catherine spent time with RNLI Lifeguards who will be supporting The University Boat Race between Oxford and Cambridge University, on April 4.

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