Prince of Wales takes to the river and rows back to his days at Eton
THE Prince of Wales has revealed his rowing past as he returned to Eton with oar in hand to raise awareness of mental health.
The Prince visited Dorney Lake in Windsor as part of Mental Health Awareness Week and spoke to the crew of HMS Oardacious, a group of submariners who are sculling across the Atlantic in an attempt to raise awareness and money for mental health issues among military personnel.
A video released by Kensington Palace shows the Prince visiting the Eton College Rowing Centre in Windsor where he met Lt-cdr Hugo Mitchellheggs, a Marine engineer officer and part of the HMS Oardacious team. “It’s nice to be back in Dorney on a nice sunny day,” William told Lt-cdr Mitchell-heggs.
When asked if he was ready for a row, the Prince quipped that “the likelihood of slapping someone else’s oars” was quite likely.
He boarded the specially built 28ft boat and was pictured rowing down Dorney Lake in synchrony with two crew members. The boat is similar in design but slightly more eco-friendly to the ones used in two previous crossings and will be used in December as part of another crossing attempt.
The Prince spoke with crew members about mental health and discussed their gruelling rowing regimen to prepare for their 3,000-mile journey.
He appeared to have remained dry after a warning from Lt-cdr Mitchell-heggs about the potential for the boat to capsize.
“Cool ... if we capsize today, we’re going well,” the Prince joked. It is understood that the Prince rowed while at Eton after enrolling in 1995.
However, it is thought he has not rowed much since, having chosen not to continue the sport during his time at the University of St Andrews or afterwards. In recent years the Prince’s sporting interests have lain elsewhere.
He is known to be an avid Aston Villa fan and has previously attended games with Prince George and Princess Charlotte. The Prince has also stood as President-designate of the Football Association since 2006 and is a royal patron for Welsh rugby.