Kate Middleton put on a stylish display as she arrived in Cumbria

The Duchess of Cambridge braved new heights today as she tried out abseiling and mountain biking during a visit to the Lake District.  

Kate Middleton, 39, who is Honorary Air Commandant of the Royal Air Force Air Cadets,  took the plunge this afternoon at Cathedral Quarry in Little Langdale, Cumbria, with a group of Air Cadets.

The mother-of-three was practical as she arrived at the RAF Air Cadets’ Windermere Adventure Training Centre, rewearing her khaki coloured Seeland puffer jacket and a pair of black jeans.

The royal finished the look with her £250 trusty brown suede See By Chloé boots, which feature leather trim detailing on a round-toe, lace-up base.  

Thirteen-year-old Itelouwa Odipe, from Lancaster, spoke to the duchess as she waited to try abseiling, revealing: ‘She was about to abseil and I was next in line so she asked me if I wanted to go before her. I was a bit scared so I said no. She said if I did she would meet me down there.’ 

Later, Kate met with surviving ‘Windermere children’ who were rescued from concentration camps and taken to the Lake District during a visit to Cumbria. 

The Duchess took part in activites including abseiling and cycling during a visit to the RAF Air Cadets’ Windermere Adventure Training Centre in Cumbria (left and right) 

The mother-of-three appeared overjoyed during the visit and could be seen letting out a laugh as she tried out cycling with the cadets 

Earlier in the day, the royal had opted for a smart checked blazer as she arrived to meet with the Windemere Children (pictured) 

The Duchess of Cambridge, arriving for a boat trip at Lake Windermere in Cumbria, United Kingdom, with two of the ‘Windermere Children’, a group of 300 child Holocaust survivors who came to stay in the Lake District in 1945

The royal, who wore her brown locks loose in a side parting and tucked behind her ears, also added pair of dainty circular silver earrings.

The natural beauty kept her makeup neutral, adding just a touch of pink blusher and a nude-coloured lip. 

The royal began her day by begin the day by joining a group of Air Cadets taking part in a number of outdoor activities, including mountain biking. 

The mother-of-three’s visit will mark the re-opening of the RAF Air Cadets’ Windermere Adventure Training Centre following a £2m refit. 

The mother-of-three was practical as she arrived at the RAF Air Cadets’ Windermere Adventure Training Centre, rewearing her khaki coloured Seeland puffer jacket and a pair of black jeans

Daring Duchess! Kate showed off her love of the outdoors during her visit to the RAF Air Cadets’ Windermere Adventure Training Centre, which has just undergone a £2m refit

The mother-of-three wrapped up warm in a cosy khaki coloured puffer jacket for the occasion and appeared animated as she chatted to staff and children at the centre 

The centre will enable hundreds of cadets from across the UK to be able to visit the Lake District each year and take part in a wide variety of activities, allowing them to build their confidence and leadership skills and achieve their Duke of Edinburgh Awards. 

The Duchess passionately believes that spending time outdoors plays a pivotal role in children and young people’s future health and happiness, building foundations that last over a lifetime by encouraging active exploration and the opportunity to form and strengthen positive relationships. 

Itelouwa said the royal had been encouraging as she tried her hand at abseiling, revealing: ‘She said it was really good and I should try it. I think she was very kind. Even though she is a royal highness she still does things normal humans do.’

The duchess asked the teenagers about the activities they took part in and how the pandemic had affected their mental health. 

The Duchess swept her hair into a low ponytail as she prepared to try abseiling at the RAF Air Cadets training centre earlier today 

One teenager who attended the day alongside the Duchess said the royal had been ‘very kind’ and encouraging during the abseiling activity (pictured, Kate)

Kate, who is Honorary Air Commandant of the Royal Air Force Air Cadets, took the plunge at Cathedral Quarry in Little Langdale, with a group of Air Cadets today 

She said of the activities: ‘It’s so great to have these challenges.’

Josh Binnie, 15, from the Kendal squadron of the cadets, told her about his experience in a glider and was asked by the duchess whether it made him travel sick.

When he said no, she replied: ‘You’re made of tougher stuff than me.’

Josh said: ‘She was very nice, a lot less formal than I expected.’

After spending time with the cadets, Kate swapped her casual puffer jacket for a smarter checked jacket as she embarked on a boat trip with two of the ‘Windermere Children’

The steam launch Osprey arrives at a jetty on Windermere in the Lake District to carry the Duchess of Cambridge to a meeting with relatives of the Windermere Children to learn about how their loved ones’ time in Cumbria recuperating after World War Two helped them to go on to build successful lives in the UK

The royal, who wore her brown locks loose in a side parting and tucked behind her ears, also added pair of dainty circular silver earrings 

The steam launch Osprey moored at a jetty on Windermere in the Lake District before carrying the Duchess of Cambridge to a meeting with relatives of the Windermere Children to learn about how their loved ones’ time in Cumbria recuperating after World War Two helped them to go on to build successful lives in the UK

The Duchess appeared in good spirits as she arrived at the event in Cumbria today, days after landing back in the UK from her younger brother’s wedding 

Fergus Ripley, 16, from Lancaster, said: ‘It was a fantastic experience to talk to Her Royal Highness. It was great to see her get involved.’ 

Abby Armstrong, 14, from Lancaster, said: ‘I found out this morning we would be meeting her and it was a total shock. I was just like ‘wow’. She was very nice and not what I was expecting, she was more down to earth.’

The duchess also spoke to former cadet Emma Wolstenholme, 39, who is planning to row across the Atlantic to raise funds for the organisation in its 80th anniversary year.

Ms Wolstenholme said: ‘She thinks it’s incredible, an amazing challenge. It’s such a great cause. I joined the cadets at 13 and went from being the quietest kid in the school to one of the more confident, outdoorsy and adventurous ones.’

The visit marked the reopening of the Windermere Adventure Training Centre following a £2 million refit.

Happy to be back to work! Kate appeared in high spirits as she met with members of the public during the outing in Cumbria this afternoon  

The Duchess wanted to be able to meet some of the survivors in person and hear their stories, having previously learnt about the history of the Windermere Children

Kate appeared in high spirits and was animated as she met with the Windermere children in person aboard the Osprey on Windermere 

The natural beauty kept her makeup neutral, adding just a touch of pink blusher and a nude-coloured lip for the outing today 

The centre will allow hundreds of cadets from across the UK to visit the Lake District each year and take part in a wide variety of activities, building their confidence and leadership skills and achieving their Duke of Edinburgh Awards.

After spending time with the cadets, Kate embarked on a boat trip with two of the ‘Windermere Children’, a group of 300 child Holocaust survivors who came to stay in the Lake District in 1945 for a period of recuperation following the atrocities they experienced in concentration camps and the ghettos of Nazi Occupied Europe. 

The Duchess wanted to be able to meet some of the survivors in person and hear their stories, having previously learnt about the history of the Windermere Children. 

She will also meet relatives of survivors to talk about how their loved ones’ time in Cumbria helped them to go on to build successful lives in the UK. 

The mother-of-three beamed as she met the group aboard the boat  ahead of a meeting with relatives of the Windermere Children to learn about how their loved ones’ time in Cumbria recuperating after World War Two helped them to go on to build successful lives in the UK

Kate appeared to be animated as she chatted away with members of the public aboard the boat today 

The group later set off for a short journey in the stream boat to meet with relatives of the Windermere Children to learn about how their loved ones’ time in Cumbria recuperating after World War Two helped them to go on to build successful lives in the UK

The Duchess, who returned to royal duty after her annual summer break last week, leaned in as she spoke with those onboard with her

The royal could be seen carefully climbing aboard the boat where she spoke with members of the Windermere children. 

During the boat trip she heard about the ways in which their time in the Lakes and the innovative support that they received at the Calgarth Estate, including outdoor recreation, sport and art therapy, allowed them to be able to begin to heal from the trauma of their childhood experiences.  

The Duchess will also learn about the work of the Lake District Holocaust Project to document and educate the public about the experiences of the Windermere Children. 

It is Kate’s first public sighting since she attended her brother James Middleton’s glamorous wedding in the South of France just days ago. 

The couple got engaged in September 2019 but had to delay the ceremony twice in the last year due to Covid, before finally announcing they had tied the knot in Bormes-les-Mimosas in Provence at the weekend.

They were twice forced to push back their wedding date, with James saying in a post on Instagram in September last year: ‘It’s a year since I asked Alizée to marry me… what a year it’s been!

The mother-of-three was in high spirits during the outing in Cumbria today, which came days after she returned from France after her brother James’ wedding 

The royal could be seen arriving at the Jetty Museum in Bowness-on-Windermere, where she is meeting relatives of the Windermere Children to learn about how their loved ones’ time in Cumbria recuperating after World War Two helped them to go on to build successful lives in the UK

The mother-of-three donned a smart checked jacket with plain black skinny jeans and her favourite pair of walking boots for the outing today 

‘Two homes, lockdown, two attempts at a wedding, a litter of [dog emoji], launching of new company @ella.co, a beard shave and much more but the best part is that I get to share it with you @alizeethevenet and I can’t wait to take on whatever the future holds for us.’

In a photograph posted by the Mayor of Bormes-les-Mimosas online, Alizee, 32, could be seen wearing a floor length off-the shoulder gown, while James, 34, beamed at the camera while wearing a full white suit and blue shirt.

The newlyweds were later joined by 50 guests including the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, their three children and Pippa and husband James Matthews at the Chateau Leoube, an exclusive vineyard in the village that produces some of the region’s finest rose wine.

The royal returned to duty after her annual summer break last week, where she visited RAF Brize Norton to meet those who helped evacuate Afghans from their country last month.