Prince William admits he ‘isn’t ready for Christmas’ as he handed out presents to…
Spreading yuletide joy, Prince William surprised children and families with Christmas gifts during a festive gathering for the 1st Battalion Mercian Regiment in Wiltshire. The ever-jovial Prince of Wales, serving as colonel-in-chief, mingled with soldiers and their loved ones at Picton Barracks, Bulford Camp, offering a merry touch to the occasion.
He received a warm welcome from Private Derby the ram, the 18-month-old regimental mascot. Impressed that the little trooper has been the 33rd since 1858, William admired, “I can see you are holding on tightly, he looks fantastic, very smart.
Upon hearing the mascot’s holiday plans to join a field full of ewes, William quipped: “So he has quite a fun Christmas. Oh good luck to him.”
Inside the mess, the prince made his rounds, sharing laughs across ten tables packed with service members and their kiddos.
One young guest, Karson Heighway, age 10, offered Prince William a specially drawn post-it portrait. With amused curiosity, Wills asked, “Is that me?” before playfully adding, “Looks like I have five nostrils,” reports the Mirror.
Clearly charmed, he neatly tucked away the sketch into his pocket. When asked about the family’s Christmas plans at their Norfolk residence, he shared that they were looking forward to cozy walks with the dog.
Still, he humorously confessed, “Am I ready for Christmas? No, no way am I ready.”
At another point, he spoke of an eagerly anticipated Christmas gathering of 45 relatives at Sandringham, saying they’re “normally spread out.” During a festive interaction, five year old Alexander Fitzgerald told him about his Christmas wish for a Nintendo Switch.
Alexander’s father, Sgt Lee Fitzgerald, later recounted, “He said he wanted a Nintendo Switch and when they spoke about playing Mario Kart William said he was supposed to let your dad win sometimes.”
The holiday spirit was alive and well as servicemen and families donned Christmas sweaters. Isobelle McNeil, 10, and her brother Hunter, 5, presented William with a Santa hat and a card for George, Charlotte, and Louis.
Their mother Fiona Dewar McNeil recalled William’s conversation with Hunter about his Christmas wish for a big Tyrannosaurus Rex, to which William replied, “William asked what Father Christmas was going to bring for him and Hunter said he was going to get a big Tyrannosaurus Rex. He said ‘I hope all your dreams come true.
Seven year old Sanganoo Kejhan presented William with a homemade Christmas card, and the prince shared a laugh with 14 year old Dylan Potter who boasted two Christmas jumpers. Potter shared after the encounter, “I asked what does a prince do for fun? He said he likes watching movies and hanging out with his children but because he is over 40 finds fun hard to come by.”
The Duke of Cambridge admitted to watching Netflix series Black Doves with wife Kate Middleton.
Despite holiday spirits, he turned down wearing a Santa hat and lacked a festive jumper, humorously blaming it on his new equerry Squadron Leader Mike Reynolds: “Some people don’t own one.”
He quipped while pointing across the room, “I didn’t know, you see that guy in the jacket, it’s his fault and I will be having a word.”
To families gathered, William hoped for a “I hope you have a quiet Christmas” and playfully remarked about greeting multiple groups, “Ten tables, it’s like I’m speed dating.”
A Fijian choir from the Mercian Regiment serenaded him, adding to the day’s cheerful mood.
