The Happy Pod: Meeting a princess while climbing a mountain

Loading player...
Pete Haslam was carrying his paraplegic son Ted up a mountain, helped by friends and family, when they bumped into Catherine, Princess of Wales. She was doing the same climbing challenge, known as the Three Peaks, and stopped to chat to them three times. Pete says he almost didn't recognise Catherine in her walking gear but, when they got talking, she was very kind and motherly to Ted.

Also: in a story suggested by a listener, we hear from the US man who crossed Africa on a skateboard. Jason Vanporppal was raising money for a skatepark in Uganda which he hopes will inspire young people.

The unusual object that saved a man's life after an accident at sea. He survived by clinging to a cool box for four hours.

Plus the twins who married twins, the Nigerian chef awarded 'icon status'.

And the surprise school trip to a star studded movie premiere. Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson arranged for the pupils to see his latest film, Moana, after they'd tagged him in a socials video.

Our weekly collection of inspiring, uplifting and happy news from around the world.

(Photo: Pete Haslam talking to Catherine, Princess of Wales, on Ben Nevis. Credit: Pete Haslam)

Presenter: Holly Gibbs. Music composed by Iona Hampson
4 Jul 7AM English United Kingdom News

Other recent episodes

French court clears way for Marine Le Pen presidential run

French hard-right leader Marine Le Pen could now run for president next year after a court in Paris upheld her embezzlement conviction, but reduced the length of her ban on running for public office. Also: Ukraine's president has used a speech at the Nato summit in Turkey to urge allies…
7 Jul 11AM 28 min

US exit World Cup despite Trump's intervention

The US are out of the World Cup after defeat by Belgium - even though one of their star players was on the pitch after his automatic one-match ban for a red card was suspended. President Trump admitted he'd intervened. Also: BBC Eye finds evidence of torture and sexual violence…
7 Jul 12AM 31 min

Ukraine requests more air defences after Russian attacks

The Ukrainian Air Force says a shortage of interceptor missiles meant none of the 23 ballistic missiles fired by Russia at Kyiv on Sunday night were shot down. It was the second large-scale deadly Russian attack on the Ukrainian capital in a week. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has called on…
6 Jul 12PM 30 min

Controversy after World Cup red card overturned

FIFA suspends a one-game ban imposed on a USA star footballer given a red card, after a reported phone call from President Trump. The decision to allow Folarin Balogun to play against Belgium at the next World Cup fixture has been condemned. Also: wildfires force evacuations across southern Europe; a…
6 Jul 12AM 32 min

The Global Story: US at 250 – your questions answered

As the United States celebrates 250 years since its founding, this week The Global Story has been exploring the surprising and often hidden ways the US has shaped the modern world. In this episode, listeners from The Global Story and Global News Podcast ask their questions to hosts Asma Khalid,…
5 Jul 7AM 31 min