Kate Middleton proved that, really, she’s just like the rest of us after making a rebellious – yet relatable – request while on a royal visit this week.
ICYMI, Princess Kate and Prince William headed over to Northern Ireland yesterday where they toured a new training centre for firefighters. As well as meeting the firefighters and trainees, the royals watched a series of drills, which included the simulation of rescuing a casualty from a fast-flowing river and a high-rise rope and ladder rescue.
The pair also took part in the drills, too. Both Kate and William attempted to rescue a ‘casualty’ by throwing a line attached to a float into the river. However, neither were successful in their simulation rescue and the casualty – played by one of the college’s instructors – was swept away by the current.
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“The water was moving at 24 knots, very fast, and they were both very close,” instructor Pete Sloane said of their attempt. “It’s difficult to hit a moving target but another go and they would have had it.”
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Next, the Prince and Princess of Wales were given a ride in a fire engine across the training site. While on board, Kate made a rebellious but relatable request, which was swiftly shut down by the driver.
According to newly qualified firefighter Caoimhe McNeice, who joined the royal couple for the ride, Kate wanted her husband to drive the engine, and put the sirens on. To this, she was “strictly told no” by the actual driver, per Caoimhe.
“The Princess was saying, ‘I’d love to drive at the real speed and have the sirens on’,” she continued. “It was just a bit of banter.”
“She wanted the prince to drive, but the driver got us there anyway,” Caoimhe went on.
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Jade Biggs (she/her) is one of Cosmopolitan UK’s freelance writers, working across all sections including entertainment, beauty, body, and sex and relationships. She previously held the position of Features Writer, covering everything from breaking news and the latest royal gossip, to the health and fitness trends taking over your TikTok feed. Jade has a degree in journalism and has been a journalist and content editor for ten years, interviewing leading researchers, high-profile influencers, and industry experts in that time. She is a cat mom to four fur babies and is obsessed with Drag Race, bottomless brunches, and wearing clothes only suitable for Bratz dolls. Follow her on Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn.