Prince William revealed Princess Charlotte’s favourite joke this morning during a surprise school visit on a day of engagements in the West Midlands.
The future King dropped in on Freddie Hadley, 12, St Michael’s Church of England High School in Rowley Regis, Sandwell, after the youngster wrote to the Prince of Wales last year inviting him to see their mental health initiatives.
During the visit, the Prince joined Freddie and his classmates for a segment on the school’s radio station, where he was asked to share a ‘dad joke’.
He said: ‘I’m kind of trying to channel Jack Whitehall, because most of his jokes are pretty dad-like.’
The royal then told a knock-knock joke about ‘Interrupting Cow’ instead, saying it’s currently Princess Charlotte’s favourite, adding: ‘That’s one I hear a lot at home at the moment.’
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Prince William revealed Princess Charlotte ‘s favourite joke this morning during a surprise school visit on a day of engagements in the West Midlands where he joined Freddie Hadley (centre) on the school’s radio station
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Prince William speaks with students during a visit to St. Michael’s Church of England High School in Rowley Regis today
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William is snapped shaking hands with 12-year-old Freddie Hadley, who made the initial invitation to visit the school
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During his visit, William met representatives of Student Voice and had conversations with students about mental health
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Inside the school William was taken to meet the school’s ‘wellbeing champions’ and handed a cup of ‘positivity-tea’
In a punchline some may have predicted, as the others around the table tried to ask: ‘Interrupting Cow who?’ the royal let out an abrupt ‘moo’.
As some laughed and some groaned at the quip, William insisted it was the best joke he could think of that was ‘clean’ and ‘broadcast-able’.
The Prince of Wales also thanked the station and the school for welcoming him – despite the fact he supports Aston Villa.
Freddie Hadley, 12, posted his letter on X, formerly Twitter, on World Mental Health Day last October telling the royal about the brilliant work he and his friends at St Michael’s Church of England High School in Rowley Regis, Sandwell, were doing.
To his delight, William personally replied, writing: ‘Good afternoon Freddie, I’m so sorry Catherine and I can’t be with you and the rest of the students at St Michael’s today. ‘Tackling mental health challenges and stigmas head on is so important, please keep up this important work. W’
Freddie’s letter clearly had a deeply moving effect on the prince, who asked his team to secretly arrange a visit to the school next time he was planning public engagements in the West Midlands.
And today he shocked the schoolboy and his classmates by arriving unannounced as the first of three engagements in the region.
It is the first time that William has undertaken what is known as a ‘royal away day’ since news of the Princess of Wales’ cancer diagnosis and treatment was publicly announced.
Freddie had no idea that the Prince was going to visit – instead he and his fellow pupils were told to prepare for a VIP guest….The Lord Lieutenant of the West Midlands.
But when he saw William get out of the car, his face broke into a broad grin.
Prince William says ‘I’m here now’ as he visits school
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The Prince of Wales decided to tell what he said was Princess Charlotte’s favourite joke at the moment
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The Prince of Wales surprised schoolboy Freddie Hadley, 12, as he arrived at his school in the West Midlands today
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Prince William speaks to school children during his visit to Rowley Regis today
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William spoke to children about mental health initiatives during his visit today
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The Prince of Wales has arrived at a school in the West Midlands to surprise a schoolboy who previously wrote to him
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During the visit, William revealed that when he began undertaking royal work, he never initially intended to look into mental health as his most championed cause
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The Prince of Wales looks deep in thought as he speaks with students using the ‘Talking Tables’ initiative today
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Prince William waves to crowds of royal fans as he visits a school in Sandwell today
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‘So this is the young lad who started it all off,’ William said. ‘Very nice to see you, thank you for your letter.’
‘You’re very welcome,’ replied Freddie. ‘Did you think you would get a response, like that?’ asked William. ‘Yes I did,’ Freddie said.
