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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Katie Weston & Russell Myers

Prince William's sweet remark to journalist after injury on Wales abseiling trip

Prince William made a sweet remark to an injured journalist after abseiling off a cliff with his wife Kate yesterday.

The Prince and Princess of Wales braved wind and rain during an action-packed trip near Merthyr Tydfil, wearing hiking gear and putting on safety equipment ready for the descent.

They were guided through the process by the Central Beacons Mountain Rescue Team, a volunteer-run organisation which responds to calls 24 hours a day, all year round.

The couple also took part in a mock operation to evacuate a dummy casualty who had slipped on rocks, helping them on a stretcher to safety.

At one point, a member of the press pack needed a bandage after cutting her ankle on a rock before William shouted over: "Are you OK?"

Prince William and Kate took part in medical support exercises (Getty Images)

They also watched a search dog rescue demonstrations, while hearing from current and former team members about their experiences spanning the organisation's six-decade history.

During the simulated casualty rescue, Kate used a radio to alert her husband to the kit she required.

The Princess could be heard saying: "Do you know what's on the list, over?"

She added: "It's like our weekly shopping list. It's like going to the supermarket."

Kate abseiled off a cliff as part of the training activities (Samir Hussein/WireImage)

The Prince and Princess then met two retired members, Bob Thomas, 75, and Nick Richards, 79, who had been part of the rescue team at the Aberfan disaster in 1966.

After leaving the Brecon Beacons, they travelled the short distance to Dowlais Rugby Club in Merthyr Tydfil where many of the mountain rescue team socialise when off-duty.

William and Kate immediately went to the Little Dragon Pizza Van parked in the car park and ordered 12 pizzas to say thank you to the volunteers.

The order, which included three margherita, three pepperoni, three BBQ chicken and three goats cheese came to more than £120.

William and Kate meeting with volunteers from the central Beacons mountain rescue team (WalesOnline/Rob Browne)

Owner Peter Morris, 45, from Brynmawr, and his employee Shannon Stokes, 25, who normally feed walkers and tourists from a spot on the Bannau north of Crickhowell, said they had fed the rescue team before.

Mr Morris said: "There was an incident up in an old quarry which is just behind our pitch where a young boy dislocated his knee.

"It was a quick call but as a gesture we gave them free pizzas because they work all hours of the day."

The royals carried the pizzas into the rugby club for the rescuers and met other members of the team and community.

Before leaving, William and Kate posed for photos and spoke with members of the public who had gathered outside to catch a glimpse of them.

Isla Cheeke, nine, from Merthyr, came with her mother Amy, 38, and 10-year-old brother Noah and handed William a letter in which she asked if she could marry Prince George.

William and Kate during a visit to Dowlais Rugby Club near Merthyr Tydfil (PA)

"I love the royal family and I think Kate is beautiful," Isla said afterwards.

Detective Constable Carolyn Brown, 50, and Sergeant Clare Edwards, from South Wales Police, were off-duty and spoke with William about the coronation.

"We were talking about the coronation, and we said we had been hoping to get an invite to the garden party and William just said, 'Of course' and got someone to take our details," Det Con Brown said.

"We thought we would be cheeky and ask as we're huge royalists."

The royal couple stayed in a local bed and breakfast last night.

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