Royal Encounter on Ben Nevis
Pete Haslam was carrying his paraplegic son Ted up a mountain when they met Catherine, Princess of Wales. She was also doing the Three Peaks challenge and stopped to chat with them three times.
12The Happy Pod
Meeting a Princess While Climbing a Mountain
Pete Haslam and his paraplegic son Ted encountered Catherine, Princess of Wales, during the Three Peaks challenge. This episode also features a man who skated across Africa and other inspiring global news.
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The Happy Pod: Meeting a princess while climbing a mountain
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Ask naturally. GenPod can find a related episode—or make a focused explainer when the right one does not exist.Key takeaways
What to know before you press play.
Kindness from the Princess
Pete initially almost didn't recognize Catherine in her walking gear. When they spoke, she was described as very kind and motherly to Ted.
3Skateboarding Across Africa
Jason Vanporppal crossed Africa on a skateboard to raise money for a skatepark in Uganda, hoping to inspire young people.
4Unusual Survival Story
A man survived an accident at sea by clinging to a cool box for four hours.
5Celebrity Surprise for Students
Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson arranged a surprise school trip to the premiere of his film, Moana, after students tagged him in a social media video.
7Ask GenPod next
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“What other royal encounters have been documented during the Three Peaks challenge?”
“How does the Three Peaks challenge work for participants with disabilities?”
“What other unusual objects have helped people survive at sea?”
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Experts
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Holly Gibbs
Presenter
10Sources and disclosure
Where this guide comes from.
This guide is based on the episode 'The Happy Pod: Meeting a princess while climbing a mountain' from the Global News Podcast, published on 2026-07-04.
- Publisher show notes
Pete Haslam was carrying his paraplegic son Ted up a mountain, helped by friends and family, when they bumped into Catherine, Princess of Wales.
- Publisher show notes
She was doing the same climbing challenge, known as the Three Peaks, and stopped to chat to them three times.
- Publisher show notes
Pete says he almost didn't recognise Catherine in her walking gear but, when they got talking, she was very kind and motherly to Ted.
- Publisher show notes
Also: in a story suggested by a listener, we hear from the US man who crossed Africa on a skateboard. Jason Vanporppal was raising money for a skatepark in Uganda which he hopes will inspire young people.
- Publisher show notes
The unusual object that saved a man's life after an accident at sea. He survived by clinging to a cool box for four hours.
- Publisher show notes
Plus the twins who married twins, the Nigerian chef awarded 'icon status'.
- Publisher show notes
And the surprise school trip to a star studded movie premiere. Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson arranged for the pupils to see his latest film, Moana, after they'd tagged him in a socials video.
- Publisher show notes
Our weekly collection of inspiring, uplifting and happy news from around the world.
- Publisher show notes
(Photo: Pete Haslam talking to Catherine, Princess of Wales, on Ben Nevis. Credit: Pete Haslam)
- Publisher show notes
Presenter: Holly Gibbs. Music composed by Iona Hampson
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