Kate admits “I need some exercise” after trying to pull hoops

Kate laughed as she admitted she “needs to exercise some” while towing hoops on a visit to a derby college with Army Captain Preet Chandi Today.

The trip was created to celebrate the officer’s record-breaking return from her solo expedition through Antarctica.

The Princess of Wales was a patron of Chandi’s venture, in which she broke the world record for longest unassisted solo polar expedition in history.

She covered 922 miles in 70 days and 16 hours, skiing 13 to 15 hours a day while carrying her supplies on a 265-pound sled and battling temperatures of -22F.

Days after returning to the UK, Captain Chandi is now visiting schools across the country to share her story and her inspirational message to push boundaries.

The first stop on the tour was Landau Forte College in her hometown of Derby, where she gave a speech to students.

She also presented an award to Simrat Soggi, one of the winners of her national school logo competition.

Kate joined her and greeted Chandi, known by her nickname “Polar Preet”, with a hug.

Speaking of the performance, the princess said: “I just think it’s incredible what you were able to achieve.

“Being alone … as humans we are meant to connect and be with each other, and being alone all the time is really challenging.”

Kate has long been an advocate for outdoor activities and is co-president of the Scouts.

While at school, she attempted to pull two hoops attached to a harness, each weighing 20kg – which Capt Chandi pulled across the streets of Derby during her three years of training to simulate the weight of her sled.

Speaking to students, Kate said: “(Capt Chandi) has been a huge inspiration to me and it has been amazing to see her journey and what she has been able to achieve in the year working towards this incredible goal.

“I really hope it inspires you all to believe in yourself, to push boundaries and really work on your own resilience because there are such powerful messages out there that really help support your emotional and spiritual well-being. “

Polar Preet beat the previous world record of 907 miles (1,459 km) set in 2015 by fellow runner Henry Worsley, a retired lieutenant colonel.

Chandi said of her performance, “Physically it was very difficult, but mentally it was a very different ballgame. When you’re staring at nothing, it was hard to keep going.

“It was tough, it was cold, it was frustrating, but I thought about ‘why’ and that helped me.”

The accomplishment marked the second time Capt Chandi has been to the continent, after becoming the first black woman to embark on a solo expedition in January last year when she completed a 700-mile (1,127 km) trek in 40 days skied to the South Pole.

She completed the challenge while on leave from her role in the Army, having joined the Army Reserve at age 19 and the regular Army at 27.

She now lives in Buckinghamshire and works as a physiotherapist in a regional rehabilitation unit.

The army captain, who also helps injured soldiers with training and rehabilitation, is scheduled to return to work in April.

Jasmine Dhnota, a 17-year-old Grade 13 student who took part in a discussion with the women, said: “It was surreal, it was incredible, it was so inspiring, and what they had to talk about about mental health has really hit home.

“Personally, struggling with this post-Covid has been so inspiring.”

When asked what her next challenge will be, Capt Chandi said, “It doesn’t have to be bigger. It’s about how I can involve people.”

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