Duchess Catherine has delivered a very special message just before Christmas in support of her idol and friend, Sir Ben Ainslie.
The royal, who has been busy spreading Christmas cheer across the UK, made time to create a new video shared on the British sailing team’s official Instagram page as they prepare to compete in the America’s Cup preliminary races this week.
In the video, Kate tells Ben and his fellow sailing comrades, “We will be all be cheering you on.”
Speaking to the camera with her usual poise and elegance, the Duchess continued: “Sir Ben Ainslie and his team are about to embark on the challenge of a lifetime – an attempt to win sport’s oldest international trophy, the America’s Cup.
“All the teams taking part have spent years preparing for the match and sailing fans around the world are waiting exciting showdown in March.”
For the video, the Duchess made a very apt choice in attire, wearing a casual waterproof coat branded with the Britannia team logo. She paired it with an old favourite nautical striped top underneath.
The video looks as though it was filmed in her Kensington Palace garden, which means she must have dressed up especially for the video.
A keen sailor and patron to the British team’s official charity, the 1851 Trust, Kate’s message comes as the team travel more than 11,000 miles from their UK base to New Zealand, where the preliminary races will begin.
Kate wore a very apt outfit for the special video.
(Instagram)In the one minute clip, Kate says: “All the teams taking part have spent years preparing for the match and sailing fans around the world are waiting exciting showdown in March.”
Kate recalled her own experience racing against Prince William back in 2014 while visiting New Zealand, describing it as “hugely exciting”.
In the video, a sweet clip of Kate and William sharing a moment during the visit appears – and their excitement is clear.
Kate added: “Next year, in far more capable hands and thanks to the incredible engineering and technology behind their new racing boat Britannia, the British team will race across the Hauraki Gulf in Auckland at speeds of up to 60mph.”
Kate recalled this “hugely exciting” moment with husband Prince William back in 2014.
(Instagram)Kate and Sir Ben’s friendship stems back to 2012 when they met at the London Olympics – since then the pair have kept in contact.
In September, it was revealed the Duchess had shared a phone call with him, with the Court Circular reporting that she “held a meeting with Sir Benedict Ainslie via telephone”.
While the premise of the call might have been with business in mind given Kate’s patron ties, we’ve no doubt it was also high time for a good, friendly check-in.
