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Catherine, the Princess of Wales, is set to become the next Queen and will reign alongside her husband Prince William, the heir to the throne.

Even prior to her entry into the Royal Family, there was considerable fascination with her background and childhood. Unsurprisingly, she also appeared in recent series of the hit Netflix drama The Crown. Yet, she was once an ordinary citizen rather than a royal and, like countless others, took holidays across the UK.

One destination she visited was Coniston in the Lake District, situated just over the hill from Windermere, and while I travelled there to witness the Bluebird K7, a legendary jet-powered hydroplane, it proved worthwhile exploring a village the senior royal cherished during her youth.

Naturally, owing to Bluebird K7's runs on Coniston Water, the location was considerably busier than normal. Indeed, according to the 2021 Census, its population stands at under 1,000 residents, who are utterly spoilt for choice, as the charming village boasts an excellent selection of restaurants and cafés.

I tallied approximately four or five during a brief stroll along the main street, including a café where I paused for a coffee and a burger, though a wider search on Google Maps reveals roughly six establishments, plus the Bluebird Café situated by Coniston Water's shoreline, reports the Mirror.

At a time when numerous pubs are shutting their doors, around two daily according to figures published in May, it seems remarkable to witness hospitality businesses flourishing in such a modest village, though admittedly, Coniston does possess several advantages working in its favour.

Firstly, its Lake District setting proves a magnet for walkers, cyclists and visitors exploring the region. Coniston is also situated directly beside the Old Man of Coniston mountain, along with numerous campsites.

Moreover, with neighbouring Windermere just a brief drive or cycle away and hiking an all-year-round activity, there's likely to be considerable visitor overflow. When Windermere becomes overcrowded, Coniston provides a convenient alternative.

Then there's the lake itself; Coniston Water may be shorter than Windermere, yet it possesses an additional layer of jet-propelled heritage through Bluebird.

Since her record-breaking runs in the 1950s and the devastating crash in 1967, visitors have been attracted to the lake where British speed record holder Donald Campbell carved his place in history before his tragic death.

Currently, with Bluebird restored and Britain maintaining its enduring passion for motorsport, Coniston boasts a fresh attraction, particularly as Bluebird now resides in the John Ruskin Museum, which constructed a dedicated new wing specifically for the vessel. There's also the occasional Coniston Speed Week where speedboats navigate the identical course.

The John Ruskin Museum takes its name from the Victorian artist John Ruskin, who resided in the village from 1872 until his death in 1900.

Princess Catherine, long before that title was remotely visible on the horizon of her future, was visiting this village and surrounding area during her holidays.

Speaking to The Standard about the family's experiences there, Catherine's brother James, 39, reflected on what it was like spending time on the water, describing how it felt as though they were inhabiting the world of the books they had read on holiday - an existence somewhere between reality and dreams.

He said: "It stems from my childhood, reading Beatrix Potter's Peter Rabbit, and as I got older, Arthur Ransome's Swallows and Amazons. As my family and I spent time on Coniston Water and Lake Windermere, it was almost like we were living the stories in real life.

"But as a family, there's a connection to the Lake District dating back generations. My great-great-grandfather on my father's side lived in Yorkshire and so for him and his family it was somewhere to go nearby.

"Every school holiday we would stay anywhere from a weekend to a week there, in sun or snow or rain, and because there was no electricity in the family cottage it was a real adventure - hiking in the mountains and playing in the Lakes."

It is little wonder the family returned multiple times. After my own first visit to the Lake District, I was rocked by the beauty of the landscape and thought that I would definitely go back.