Kate Middleton revealed Prince William has told her ‘a lot about Sandhurst’ as she spoke with a WWII veteran ahead of Remembrance Day.
In the sweet video, shared to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s YouTube channel, Kate, 39, spoke with 98-year-old veteran Colonel Blum and Cub Scout Emily, 10, and asked them to share their stories.
‘Well, I was a Pimlico boy and I got called up for the army,’ explained Colonel Blum. ‘I was actually called up to Aberdeen. Then I was selected for commissioning and I went to Sandhurst.’
Kate responded: ‘It was probably tougher than than when my husband did it. I’ve heard a lot about Sandhurst,’ to which Colonel Blum added: ‘It had its moments.’
Kate Middleton, 39, opened up about Prince William’s time at Sandhurst in an interview to mark Remembrance Day. Pictured, royal takes part in the Sovereign’s Parade at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst on December 15, 2006
Prince William joined the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst as an officer cadet after graduating from St Andrews University.
In December 2006, he was commissioned as an Army Officer and later served with the RAF as a search and rescue helicopter pilot.
The royal who is second in line to the throne, has previously referred to his job as a search and rescue pilot as his greatest calling in life.
Speaking in documentary Helicopter Rescue which aired in 2013, Flt Lt Wales as he was known in the RAF, said: ‘There’s no greater feeling than when you’ve actually done some good and saved someone’s life.
‘I don’t think there’s any greater calling in life… to be able to see a son or daughter’s face when you bring their mother or father back from the edge of death – it’s quite powerful.’
Describing the moment a life and death mission came in, William said: ‘As captain you’re trying to play out the entire rescue, the transit to the rescue and back again in your mind, and pick up any circumstances or problems you can foresee, and try and fix them on the ground before you get airborne.’
Kate (pictured) told Colonel Blum that she’s ‘heard a lot about Sandhurst’ – referring to her husband’s time there
The war veteran explained how he was a Pimlico boy and got called up for the army, before going to Sandhurst (pictured, left, with Cub Scout Emily, right)
During the interview shared on YouTube today, Kate went on to ask the veteran what Remembrance means for him and why this time of year is so important.
‘I have to say I lost a few friends,’ he began. ‘One in particular I remember, he was killed a day or two before the war ended. That I must say affected me quite a bit.’
‘You wrote to their families to say how sorry you were to have to tell them about this.’
The royal went on to say: ‘This time of year, is it lovely for you to reflect on not only the time that you served, but also on your friends and your loved ones who you sadly lost.
‘Yes, yes, very much so,’ replied Colonel Blum.
During the interview shared on YouTube today, Kate went on to ask the veteran (pictured) what Remembrance means for him and why this time of year is so important
Showing a selection of old photographs to the duchess, Colonel Blum explained: ‘That’s me as an 18-year-old soldier. Then I got leave to go home and get married. And that’s me with my wife who died sadly about 18 years ago.’
Kate went on to ask Colonel Blum what his message would be this Remembrance Sunday.
‘Sadly for me, there are fewer and fewer people around now who I’m able to share memories with,’ he explained. ‘It’s a fact of when you get to 98, as I am, they’ve mostly gone, which is sad.
But, I turn out every Remembrance Day. I used to go up to Whitehall but now I have to do a local parade with the British Legion in Staines where I live.’