A hiker has revealed the surprise moment he had a conversation with the Princess of Wales on Ben Nevis while she was completing the Three Peaks Challenge.

A stunned Jacky Leung said he told Kate that she was ‘so inspiring’ and the princess congratulated him on making it to the top of Britain’s highest mountain.

Mr Leung explained how he at first saw two camera operators walking uphill, and one of them set up a camera to photograph a ‘very lean female hiker’.

He soon realised the woman was the future Queen, describing himself as ‘speechless’ and saying he ‘could not respond with any proper names to greet her’.

Mr Leung added that he felt ‘so confused and so psyched at that split-second’, but Kate then began speaking to him and they had a brief conversation.

Kate said: ‘Hi, are you alright?’ Mr Leung replied: ‘I am good, just to wait for my friends.’ The princess then asked him: ‘Did you make it to the top?’

Mr Leung said: ‘Yeah, we were lucky to get it to the top.’ Kate told him: ‘Well done!’ He responded: ‘Thank you! You’re so inspiring!’ And Kate said: ‘Thank you!’

He said the princess then ‘power-walked up with very strong spirit’, adding that ‘not many people recognised Her Royal Highness as she made her way up to the top’.

Jacky Leung said he spotted the Princess of Wales walking up Ben Nevis at the weekend

Kate on Ben Nevis as she completed the Three Peaks Challenge and spoke to Mr Leung

Kate climbed the highest mountains in Scotland, England and Wales – Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike and Snowdon – within 24 hours, starting on Saturday evening.

Mr Leung said his friends ‘did not notice her passing by at all’, adding that completing the challenge is a ‘serious test of grit’ and Kate ‘showed immense strength and spirit’.

He said it was an ‘epic day’ on Ben Nevis when ‘all coincidences happened’, adding: ‘Deepest respect to Her Royal Highness for such an incredible feat of endurance!’

Kate took on the gruelling ‘personal’ expedition this weekend to raise money for a cancer charity and ‘explore life beyond diagnosis’.

She carried out the challenge solo, supported en route by Mountain Rescue, and was greeted at the end by the Prince of Wales and 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.

The royal family celebrated the undertaking, with the monarchy’s official social media account posting: ‘Congratulations to The Princess of Wales.’

Kate 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.

In a video released last night, the princess said she had met some ‘incredible people’ living with and beyond cancer, adding: ‘I know personally how difficult that journey is.’

Kate took on the gruelling ‘personal’ expedition to raise money for a cancer charity

The princess said she had met some ‘incredible people’ living with and beyond cancer

The princess, who was recorded speaking before she started the walk, said: ‘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. But, more importantly, it’s to give something back and acknowledge, really, all the incredible work going on up and down this country.’

Kate also released a written message on social media in which she revealed she had successfully completed the trek.

She was pictured smiling broadly at the misty summit of Ben Nevis on Saturday evening dressed in a cagoule, with a cap on and her hood up, and trekking poles on her back.

The princess could be seen wearing her sapphire and diamond engagement ring, which belonged to William’s late mother Diana, Princess of Wales.

The princess wrote: ‘I have taken on the National Three Peaks Challenge, not simply as a physical endeavour but as a chance to explore life beyond diagnosis and to give something back.

‘The Royal Marsden is a place that holds great meaning for me and whose care and expertise are life changing for so many people.

‘Through this challenge, I want to raise awareness for the deeper impact of serious illness and the importance of holistic healthcare.’

Sharing her own experience of cancer, she spoke of how she personally understood that the illness can affect every aspect of someone’s life.

The princess added: ‘Every year, hundreds of thousands of people in this country hear the words no-one wants to hear.

‘What follows is a path that tests every part of who we are: physically, emotionally, psychologically and spiritually. The challenges ripple outwards, touching families, friendships, work and the quiet moments we spend alone with our thoughts.

‘Cancer doesn’t just affect the body. It changes how you think and feel and profoundly affects every aspect of life. I know this personally.’ 

Jacky Leung said he told Kate that she was ‘so inspiring’ during the surprise encounter

Kate trekked for 23 miles, with a total ascent of more than 10,000 feet, and a driving distance of 462 miles between locations.

She was previously treated at the Royal Marsden Hospital in Chelsea, west London, and The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity has launched a specially designed fundraising page for people across the nation to donate.

Money raised will be used to help more people with cancer to benefit from holistic care.

The princess, who has long campaigned over the importance of spending time outdoors, wrote: ‘In the end, bravery isn’t just about pushing forward.

‘It is about knowing how to stay grounded, connected and present, no matter the terrain, or landscape you are walking through.

‘Together, we can stand alongside everyone navigating life with cancer, ensuring no-one faces this disease feeling unseen or unsupported.

‘Please know you are not alone.’

Kate, who signed her personal message with a ‘C’, also wrote of the benefit of holistic therapies.

Money raised will also support research into how holistic care can best work alongside clinical cancer treatments to help patients, with the goal of creating a blueprint for change, so the supportive care becomes a standard part of cancer treatment nationally.

The fundraising link is available here.

Kate was diagnosed with an undisclosed form of cancer early in 2024, for which she underwent chemotherapy, and she announced she was in remission 17 months ago in January 2025.

The physical challenge marks the latest milestone for the princess, who has gradually returned to royal duties, and last month restarted her international travel with a working trip to Italy.

Dame Cally Palmer, chief executive of The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, said: ‘The princess’s commitment to The Royal Marsden stems from a deep empathy for those facing similar challenges, and we are immensely grateful for this generous support that will make a difference to the lives of so many cancer patients and their families.’