The Prince and Princess of Wales (Image: Getty Images)
When the Prince and Princess of Wales first married they lived together in a cottage in Anglesey while William served as an RAF search and rescue pilot at RAF Valley, which he is visiting today – and Kate once spoke out about how she felt while living there
The Prince of Wales has been at RAF Valley in Anglesey, North Wales, for the first time since becoming its honorary air commodore – taking on the role from his father King Charles. William is no stranger to the airbase as he served there from 2010 to 2013 when he was an RAF search and rescue pilot.
During his time there, his wife the Princess of Wales joined him and as newlyweds, they lived in a small cottage in Anglesey before they began as full-time working royals. And it was during their time there that the couple welcomed their first child Prince George in 2013.
William and Kate on a visit back to Anglesey in 2019 (Image Getty Images)
This meant that George, who is now almost 11, spent several months of his early years in North Wales where his father worked. But speaking many years after they moved from Anglesey to Amner Hall in Norfolk, Kate, who is currently having cancer treatment, once admitted she felt ‘isolated’ during this time.
While visiting a children’s centre in Cardiff in 2020, Kate explained: “I was chatting to some of the mums, I had just had George and William was still working with search and rescue, so we came up here when George was a tiny, tiny little baby, in the middle of Anglesey. It was so isolated, so cut off, I didn’t have my family around me, he was doing night shifts, so if only I’d had a centre like this at a certain time.”
But despite the difficult time when George was born, it seems on the whole that the couple did enjoy living in rural North Wales. William previously said: “This island has been our first home together, and it will always be an immensely special place for us both. Catherine and I look forward to returning again and again over the coming years with our family. I know that I speak for Catherine when I say that I have never in my life known somewhere as beautiful and as welcoming as Anglesey.”
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Prince William at RAF Valley today (Image:PA)
RAF Valley is the RAF’s only station in Wales and is home to the No 4 Flying Training School (4FTS), for the UK’s next generation of fighter pilots. Crews at the base are also trained for mountain and maritime operations across the world.
During his visit today, William had the opportunity to take part in a simulated fire response and to meet crew members stationed at the base and their families. He toured the base, visited the air traffic control tower and learned about plans to refurbish the second runway before presenting the annual Prince of Wales Award to the best-qualified flying instructor. William was also due to meet the response team from the RAF Mountain Rescue Service (MRS).
His outing today comes ahead of William taking part in a charity polo match on Friday. The heir to the throne will compete in the Out-Sourcing Inc Royal Charity Polo Cup 2024 at Guards Polo Club in Windsor Great Park.
The event will raise money for causes which William and the Princess of Wales are passionate about supporting, Kensington Palace said. It will be the 13th time William has played in the fixture, which is set to generate £1 million this year to add to a running total of £13 million raised by the cup over the years. Eleven charities and organisations will benefit including the Motor Neurone Disease Association.
