Kate Middleton and Prince William Ride Lifeboat in Throwback Moment to Her First-Ever Royal Outing

The Prince and Princess of Wales highlighted the work of lifesavers on London’s river during an outing on March 12

The Prince and Princess of Wales during a visit to the RNLI Tower Lifeboat Station.

Kate Middleton and Prince William are heading out on the River Thames.

The Prince and Princess of Wales stepped out together on March 12, stepping onto a lifeboat on London’s river as they highlighted the work of lifesavers with the crews of the Royal National Lifeboats Institution, who work on the U.K. capital’s waterways.

Princess Kate, 44, and Prince William, 43, visited the lifeboat station RNLI Tower (named for the Tower of London), the newest of the four lifeboat stations that are based along the Thames as it snakes through the greater London region. The couple was taken out for a ride on the Thames, in the shadow of the Tower of London, where the Crown Jewels are kept.

The pair sported life vests, yellow jackets and baseball caps for the ride.

Prince William, Prince of Wales and Catherine, Princess of Wales travel on a lifeboat ahead their visit to the RNLI Tower Station on March 12, 2026 in London, England.

Prince William and Kate Middleton ride on a lifeboat in London on March 12, 2026.Kate Green/Getty

The moment was something of a throwback for the royal couple. Fifteen years ago, they went to a lifeboat station in Anglesey, Wales, on what was their first official royal duty together shortly before their April 2011 wedding.

For Kate’s first-ever royal outing, the couple helped launch a new lifeboat, but they didn’t go for a ride then.

Kate Middleton and Prince William launch the new Hereford Endeavour lifeboat as they visit Trearddur Bay Lifeboat Station

Kate Middleton and Prince William have their first joint royal outing in Wales on Feb. 24, 2011.Chris Jackson/Getty

On Thursday’s outing, they met the station manager, Kevin Maynard, and the duty crew, who told them about the kinds of rescues undertaken at Tower. They were also told about how the charity provides training, equipment and support to deal with challenging situations.

Prince William and Princess Kate also spent time talking with RNLI Lifeguards who will be supporting The University Boat Race – which sees Oxford University take on their Cambridge rivals on the Thames on April 4th. This year, it is the 25th anniversary of the RNLI Lifeguards this year.

Underlining how busy it already is, the lifeboat has been called out on 45 occasions already in 2026.

Prince William, Prince of Wales and Catherine, Princess of Wales travel on a lifeboat during their visit to the RNLI Tower Station on March 12, 2026 in London, England.

Prince William and Kate Middleton ride in a lifeboat in London on March 12, 2026.Kate Green/Getty

The Princess of Wales on the River Thames during a visit to the RNLI Tower Lifeboat Station in London.

Kate Middleton visits RNLI Tower Lifeboat Station in London on March 12, 2026.Aaron Chown/PA Images via Getty

The couple was told that crews work 12-hour shifts and are on duty every day of the year. Staffers are supported by volunteers, which is the same as at most of the 238 lifeboat stations across the U.K. and Ireland. Meanwhile, beach lifeguards provide seasonal patrols on over 240 beaches.

They made the outing because they wanted to pay tribute to those who work on the rivers and seas around the British Isles and thank them for their work over the bitter and challenging winter.

The Prince and Princess of Wales during a visit to the RNLI Tower Lifeboat Station.

Prince William and Kate Middleton in London on March 12, 2026. Andrew Parsons / Kensington Palace

Before learning about the lifeboat station, Prince William and Princess Kate made a few surprise stops around some of London’s famous landmarks, including Borough Market. There, the pair spent time at a cheese stall, a dessert stand and a coffee shop helping end homelessness, where Kate poured a coffee for her husband.

The royal couple also stopped by Southwark Brewing Company, part of the Bermondsey Beer Mile, where Princess Kate used a long stick to give some beer a stir.

Prince William, Prince of Wales and Britain's Catherine, Princess of Wales, smile during a visit to the Southwark Brewing Company at the Bermondsey Beer Mile in London on March 12, 2026.

Prince William and Kate Middleton visit Southwark Brewing Company on March 12, 2026.Kin Cheung / POOL / AFP via Getty

The couple’s outings came three days after they joined King Charles and other senior members of the royal family for the Commonwealth Day service. It was the royals’ largest public gathering since the former Prince Andrew’s arrest.

That was met with protesters from the anti-monarchy group Republic. “What did you know?” spelled out a row of bright yellow posters held by the campaigners, apparently referencing Andrew’s connection to the late Jeffrey Epstein.

Next week, the royals will gather again for the state visit by the President of Nigeria, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and his wife, Oluremi Tinubu.