The Princess of Wales has scaled Britain’s three highest peaks in 24 hours to ‌raise money for a cancer charity and “as a chance to explore life beyond diagnosis and ‌to give something back”.

Kate, 44, the wife of heir to the throne Prince William, ‌is in remission after having chemotherapy for an undisclosed form of cancer and, while she has returned to royal duties, she has spoken of the toll the illness has taken on her and her family.

In a post on her official social media channels released on Sunday (British time), Kate ‌said this weekend she ‌had completed ⁠the Three Peaks Challenge – climbing Scafell Pike, Ben Nevis and Snowdon, ​the highest mountains in England, Scotland and Wales – in a 24-hour period.

She started the challenge – trekking for a total of 37 kilometres, climbing a total of 3,064 metres and travelling more than 740 kilometres by road between the locations – on Saturday night.

In a photo released to mark the milestone, a smiling Kate can be seen at one of the peaks clad in wet-weather gear, with a misty sky behind her.

At the ​end of the event, which she completed solo supported en route by Mountain Rescue, Kate was greeted by her husband and their three children Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, along with her parents and brother.

She said the aim was to raise the importance of holistic care and to raise funds for The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity, which supports work at the hospital where she had months of treatment.

“Lots of people have asked me why I’m doing this challenge and partly it’s personal. ​I’m so ‌grateful to be here, to be strong enough to walk these hills,” she said in an emotional video statement.

“But more importantly, it’s to give something back and acknowledge really all the incredible work going on up and down this country.”

Kate had a course of preventative chemotherapy after major abdominal surgery in early ​2024 ​revealed the presence of an unspecified ​form of cancer. She has since delivered ‌personal messages about its effect on her and her family.

Meeting patients at a British hospital last year, she spoke of having to put on a “brave face” during “difficult” times.

“I’ve met some incredible people, those people who are living with and beyond cancer, and I know personally how difficult that journey is,” she said.

“I really wanted to use this opportunity as my way of contributing to all the wonderful work that’s going on. ​And in particular, to support The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity, an organisation very dear to me, but ​who do extraordinary work supporting ⁠those living with and beyond the disease,” she said.

The princess announced in January last year that she was officially in remission.

Prince George grows up

Kate’s emotional message came just a day after another video showing a rare joint outing with her son, Prince George.

The royals shared an Instagram post on Saturday (British time) showing George and Kate honouring Britain’s Armed Forces Day with a visit to the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight at the Royal Air Force Coningsby base.

The clip shows George, who will turn 13 next month, is almost as the same height as his 1.75-metre-tall mother.

It also shows mother and son taking turns sitting in the cockpit of different planes.

“Honouring Service and Sacrifice,” the post was captioned, in part.

“Learning about the extraordinary history of these aircraft and meeting the pilots and engineers who keep their legacy alive. A powerful reminder of the courage, skill and dedication of those who serve, past and present. Thank you to all those who have served and continue to serve.”

The Prince and Princess of Wales recently confirmed that George will follow in the footsteps of his father and head to Eton College later this year.

George will complete his schooling at the institution that educated Prince William, his brother Prince Harry and 20 British prime ministers.

The British school year begins in September.

-with AAP