The Princess of Wales defied the odds, completing the National Three Peaks Challenge just 17 months after announcing she was in remission from cancer. Starting on Saturday evening, Catherine, 44, climbed Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike and Snowdon within 24 hours, supported en route by Mountain Rescue. She was greeted at the end by the Prince of Wales, her children Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, and her parents Carole and Michael Middleton and brother James Middleton. Kensington Palace said they believed the expedition was a royal first, with the princess being the first member of the royal family to complete the Three Peaks.
In a video released on Sunday, the princess revealed she had taken on the trek not only as a physical endeavour but 'to give something back' and raise awareness of the wider impact of serious illness. 'Lots of people have asked me why I'm doing this challenge, and partly, it's personal,' she said. 'I'm so grateful to be here, to be strong enough to walk these hills.' The princess, who was treated for cancer at the Royal Marsden, wrote: 'The Royal Marsden is a place that holds great meaning for me... Through this challenge, I want to raise awareness for the deeper impact of serious illness.'
“Princess Kate completes Three Peaks Challenge in royal first; Andy Burnham pledges '10-year mission' to fix Britain in upcoming speech.”
As the nation celebrated the princess's achievement, Monday's papers were dominated by another political figure: Andy Burnham. The former Greater Manchester Mayor, described as 'probable prime minister-in-waiting' by the Financial Times, is expected to set out plans for a new 'No 10 North' based in Manchester, aiming to decentralise power with 'echoes of Starmer and Johnson'. The Daily Telegraph's front page declared 'Give me 10 years to fix Britain', while the Daily Mail warned of 'tax raids on middle classes' in what it called a 'left-wing plan for a decade in power' to be unveiled when Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer is 'shoved aside' next month.
The Guardian highlighted Burnham's message of 'growth in all postcodes' but also pointed to 'alarm' over the 'growing role of private equity firms' in UK government spending. The Times reported that Burnham is expected to say he wants 'mayors to help cut benefits bill', while the i Paper called it the 'biggest ever power transfer', with Burnham pushing power 'out of Whitehall to regions and local communities'. Meanwhile, the Metro reported that a 'blueprint' to 'future-proof our armed forces' unveiled by Starmer has been signed off by 'his likely successor Andy Burnham'. In a separate move, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood will announce plans for the 'public to decide asylum appeals' as she 'jettisons judges', according to the Times.