Amputee, nine, tells Catherine of Three Peaks success

A nine-year-old amputee who completed the Three Peaks challenge alongside his dad has met Catherine, Princess of Wales to celebrate his success.

Albie-Junior Thomas, from Holywell, Flintshire, was invited for a tea party at Windsor Castle after his father sent a letter describing how he had climbed the highest mountains in Wales, Scotland and England.

Dad Daniel said he thought the message would resonate with the princess, after she completed her own Three Peaks challenge earlier this year, in aid of the hospital where she was treated for cancer.

In a post on X, the princess said it was a "pleasure" to hear the stories of "resilience, determination and hope" shared by each person she met.

The youngster from Holywell, Flintshire, was born without a fibula in his left leg and his foot was removed at 15 months.

Despite this, at four he became the youngest amputee to scale Yr Wyddfa, also known as Snowdon, Wales' highest peak.

Albie-Junior and his father have since embarked on several climbing challenges together raising thousands for their local football club in the process.

In August, he finished the Three Peaks Challenge in 22 hours and 30 minutes alongside his dad, powered by ham and cheese sandwiches, sour sweets and four months' training.

This included conquering Ben Nevis in Scotland and Scafell Pike in England as well as Yr Wyddfa.

Daniel described the moment they received a phone call inviting them to Windsor Castle as "unbelievable".

Once they arrived, Daniel said he stayed in the background, letting Albie-Junior enjoy the experience as "it was his thing".

"For him it was just like a chat to a lady, you know, just the innocence of it," he said.

"It's like a mother talking to a son."

He said the conversation stood out to him because of how "pleasant" it was and said Catherine made him like they were "both equals".

In a post on X, the princess said: "Listening to their experiences of the challenge and their reasons for taking it on was a powerful reminder that recovery is rarely a journey we make alone, and of the importance of the people who walk alongside us along the way."

Despite getting millions of view on their social media channels, Daniel said his son is still as humble as ever, and he reminds him all he has done is "walk up a few mountains".

"To him, it's he's just doing what boys should do. Getting out and having fun," added Daniel.

"It's not like it's for the fame or nothing like that."

Talking about his sons experiences with the princess, he said: "As long as you're nice with someone else and they're nice back, you know that's the way it should be."

Daniel said they are planning to tackle Kilimanjaro, in Tanzania, and are gathering up ten others to climb it with them in August next year.

He added: "When there's a challenge set you want to get it done, but it's not just about that because you have to acclimatise and get the safety right."

Daniel said he intends to contact Guinness World Records as Albie-Junior could become the youngest amputee to climb the mountain.

"Yeah I'm determined to get him in it," he added.