William and Kate take trip down memory lane with homage to first ever royal engagement

13 Mar 2026 • 10:17 PM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

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  • Prince William and Princess Kate drove a lifeboat down the River Thames in London, as they revisited their first royal engagement 15 years on.
  • They met with staff and volunteer fundraisers from the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) on Thursday (12 March).
  • The engagement marked a trip down memory lane, as their first official royal engagement was at an RNLI station in Anglesey in 2011.
  • The royal couple, wearing RNLI life jackets, took turns at the helm of the vessel before enjoying refreshments with the organisation back on land.
  • They expressed their delight on Instagram, stating it was “wonderful to meet the crews to hear firsthand about rescues on the river”.

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