The Duchess of Cambridge arrived at Windermere Jetty Museum today (Tuesday 21 September 2021) aboard a 1902 steam launch with two Holocaust survivors. 

Her Royal Highness was in Cumbria carrying out visits that highlight the beneficial, lifelong impact that nature and the outdoors can have on young people. 

Two heritage boats from the museum – Osprey and Penelope – picked up The Duchess and her party from Wray Castle and brought them across Windermere to the museum.

During her journey across the water Her Royal Highness met two of the ‘Windermere Children’, a group of 300 child Holocaust survivors who came to stay in the Lake District in 1945 following the atrocities they experienced in concentration camps and ghettos of Nazi Occupied Europe. 

The Duchess and party arrived at the museum’s jetties aboard Osprey – a beautifully restored 1902 steam launch. 

Rhian Harris, Chief Executive of Lakeland Arts – which runs Windermere Jetty Museum officially welcomed The Duchess.

Rhian Harris said: “We were delighted to welcome the Duchess of Cambridge to the museum and to host such a poignant meeting with Holocaust survivors.

“The Duchess was able to hear the survivors’ remarkable stories and the support they received in Cumbria after the war. She learned how the Lake District provided access to the great outdoors which helped the survivors to begin to heal.”

While at the museum, the Duchess also got to learn about the work of the Lake District Holocaust Project to document and educate the public about the experiences of the Windermere Children.

Windermere Jetty Museum opened in 2019 and is a vibrant, family-friendly visitor attraction, dedicated to the boats, people and the rich history of Windermere, England’s largest natural lake.

The National Lottery Heritage Fund is the major funder for the Museum. Grants are made possible by National Lottery players. The project is also supported by Regional Growth Fund and Northern Cultural Regeneration Fund.

This spectacular museum is shortlisted for the RIBA Stirling Prize – the winner of which will be announced in mid October. 

The Duchess of Cambridge is the latest member of The Royal Family to visit Windermere Jetty Museum. 

In April 2019 His Royal Highness Prince Charles officially opened the museum. While a key boat in the collection – Branksome – one of the finest surviving steam launches in the world – carried HRH Prince Philip on his tour of the lake in 1966. 

Find out more about The Windermere Children.