Published October 02, 2026
In a heartfelt post, Prince William and Princess Kate have celebrated an incredible feat of courage and endurance.
The royal couple congratulated Dave “Dinger” Bell, a former Royal Marine, on completing an extraordinary solo ocean-rowing challenge in support of Rock2Recovery, a charity close to both their hearts.
The Prince and Princess of Wales' Instagram Story shared three powerful images of Dinger at sea: one battling the waves aboard his tiny ocean boat, and two emotional moments after his long journey.
A simple message from the couple summed it up beautifully: “An extraordinary achievement. Huge congratulations to Dinger for completing this incredible challenge in support of a brilliant cause @rock2recoveryuk. Well done! W”
One of the photos shows his joyful and triumphant moment, standing in the water and raising arms in victory.
Day after day, stroke after stroke, Dinger faced the vast ocean alone. No crowds, no cheering stadiums - just open water, endless sky and thousands of miles ahead.
For 327 days at sea, he rowed over 15,000 nautical miles, raising more than £110,000 for veterans, serving Armed Forces, emergency services and their families affected by stress.
The photos say it all — the weathered face of determination, the quiet courage, the sheer human endurance of a man who believed every painful mile could help someone else heal.
As Dinger himself said so perfectly: “The rewards come from the toil of trying.”