The unlikely royal who has run the London Marathon - and even set a world record
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Marathon enthusiasts will be hitting the pavements of both London and Manchester today, aiming to conquer the challenging 26-mile course.
Among the Royal Family, known for their sporting prowess, only one member has successfully completed this demanding race and even set a record in the process - Princess Beatrice.
In 2010, she participated in the marathon to raise funds for her mother Sarah Ferguson's charity, Children in Crisis. The princess was part of a group of 34 runners who formed a human caterpillar, tied together for the entire route.
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Her then-boyfriend Dave Clarke and friends Sam and Holly Branson were among the participants. Sporting a vibrant tutu and sweatbands, Beatrice was seen celebrating with her medal after crossing the finish line.
(Image: Getty Images)
(Image: Getty Images)
Remarkably, the group set a record for the most people to complete a marathon while tied together. While they haven't personally run the marathon, the Prince and Princess of Wales made a special appearance at the event in 2017.
They cheered on the runners from a water station, supporting the 'Heads Together' mental health charity. The Royal couple engaged with the crowd, handing out high-fives and posing for selfies, having earlier kicked off the event by pressing a large red button, reports the Mirror.
However, their efforts to hydrate the athletes led to some unexpected fun when runners playfully squirted them with their water bottles.
Some of the 39,000 participants stopped for handshakes and selfies, but when a few sprayed water, it didn't amuse everyone as droplets hit their jackets.
Kate, who is now in remission from cancer, has previously confessed her desire to take part in the annual 26.2-mile race. However, she's not permitted to do so.
Journalist Bryony Gordon, who has met Kate and completed the marathon herself, shared an interaction with the Royal about the possibility of running it.
Speaking to Runner's World, Bryony recounted: "I can't remember exactly what happened, but I was like, 'Are you going to run the marathon?' And she was like, 'Oh I can't because security is a bit difficult.' But I was like, 'Sure, yeah, yeah, good excuse! If I can do it, anyone can.'".
In contrast, the Duchess of Edinburgh took on a portion of the marathon in 2020 during the socially distanced event. Braving the pouring rain, she ran 1.5 miles alongside one of the 45,000 challengers.
She supported Tomas, who was fundraising for Mencap, a charity she patronises.
Mencap works tirelessly to support the 1.5 million people with a learning disability in the UK by providing social care support to adults and advocating for improved healthcare, employment, and financial assistance.
The London Marathon is set to snake its way through the capital's streets from Greenwich to Westminster today, with throngs of onlookers anticipated to cheer along the course. A staggering 50,000 plus participants are predicted to tackle the colossal 26.2-mile journey past iconic London sights such as Buckingham Palace, Cutty Sark and Tower Bridge.
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