Prince William returns to a special place in Wales with links to Duchess Kate

Prince William is back on the beach with a mission.

The Prince of Wales, 43, took a walk along the north Wales coastal town of Colwyn Bay on Tuesday, November 25, to highlight the change young people are making in coastal areas.

It was like coming home for William. In 2011, the prince and his wife Kate were living about 40 miles west of Colwyn Bay on the island of Anglesey in northwest Wales, when the prince was a search and rescue helicopter pilot for the Royal Air Force. The day also included a kind shout-out to the Princess of Wales.

One of his stops was Mokdre Youth Shez, which co-creates safe spaces with young people who have had adverse childhood experiences. The prince joined them at the hut where they enjoyed 3D printing, games and a look at Youth Shez’s outreach bus, Betsy, which serves young people in the area.

According to royal correspondent Rebecca English, during a conversation with Youth Sheds founder Scott Jenkinson, Prince William realized that Scott’s wife Sian was a huge support in his fight against homelessness and addiction.

“Were you with Scott when he turned his life around?” the royal asked Sian. “He turned his life around.”

Sian agreed, but Scott said, “My wife’s in the back. You know that.”

Prince William responded, “This is it. Behind every average man is an even better wife.”

On his first stop of the day, Prince William met with volunteers and spoke to young people aged 13 to 25 who were taking part in this year’s Marine Conservation Society’s Hirais in Y Mohr project. The project brought together people from the nearby coastal towns of Prestatyn, Rhyl, Kimmel Bay and Towyn to increase marine knowledge and improve sustainable management of local marine heritage. The project also helped promote the health and well-being that comes from connecting with the ocean.

William was last seen in public on Nov. 3 on a beach in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, playing volleyball with Copacabana Olympian Carolina Solberg to promote the work he does for the city’s underprivileged youth.

Our day in North Wales ended on a high note as we were joined by comedian Kiri Pritchard-McLean, co-founder of comedy school Gwneud, Make, Do. This will help young people, especially those living in remote areas and from low-income groups, develop their talents and open up more artistic opportunities.

Prince William will spend time with aspiring comedians to talk about their hopes and the challenges they face pursuing a future in the arts in remote rural and coastal areas.

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Prince William and Duchess Kate recently settled into their new home at Windsor’s Forest Lodge, but they have long had a special connection to Wales, even before they became Prince and Princess of Wales in 2022 after Queen Elizabeth’s death.

Prince William trained to become a helicopter pilot with the RAF Search and Rescue Unit, graduating from the RAF Valley Search and Rescue Training Unit on Anglesey in 2010. Tatler said Prince William is the first member of the royal family to live in Wales since Henry VII in the 1400s.

Prince William and Duchess Kate announced their engagement in 2010, adding that they would continue to live in North Wales, where Prince William worked as an air and sea rescue pilot for the Royal Air Force. A few months later, in February 2011, Kate made her first official royal visit to Wales. The Duchess of Cambridge joined Prince William at Treardur Bay Lifeboat Station, where he christened the new Hereford Endeavor lifeboat while applauding his bride.

After marrying in April 2011, Prince William and Duchess Kate spent their honeymoon in Wales. This is also where the couple spent their first few months as parents after welcoming their first child, Prince George, in July 2013.