The Duchess of Edinburgh visited Guernsey in anticipation of an upcoming small ships race to Dorset. Over 130 young people are set to participate in a sailing race
from Guernsey to Poole on Tuesday, commemorating the 200th anniversary of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI).
As the Royal Patron of the Association of Sail Training Organisations (ASTO), which provides opportunities for young people to develop sailing and team-building skills, the Duchess spent time engaging with participants, all of whom are under 25, before they embarked on their journey.
Joshua Caudary, a member of ASTO with curly brown hair, a brown beard, and blue eyes, expressed his excitement about the Duchess's visit. He remarked, "It was fantastic meeting royalty for the first time. She got involved right away, and I was honored to have her on the boat to show her what the charity does. Her Royal Highness asked us about our roles on the boat and our long-term plans."
Caudary also mentioned that Tuesday's race would be challenging without the use of engines. "It should be really great, just getting out there with all the boats sailing, trying to outdo each other, and most importantly, having a great time at sea," he added.
Neave Chatting-Tonks, a governor cadet representing the youth commission, described the experience of meeting the Duchess as "really amazing." Chatting-Tonks, with brown hair in a ponytail, tortoiseshell glasses, and a big smile with braces, wore a white shirt under a navy blazer adorned with a medal as she stood by the sea, surrounded by various boats on a clear day. Photo by Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, Wikimedia commons.
