Prince William makes a surprise appearance at memorial service in Snettisham

The Prince of Wales made a surprise appearance at a memorial service in Snettisham this morning.

Prince William, 40, appeared smart in a blue jumper teamed with a matching check shirt as he chatted with members of the community who were gathered at Snettisham Memorial Hall to remember the victims of the 1953 floods.

England suffered one of its worst peacetime disasters when floods battered the east coast, claiming hundreds of lives on the night of January 31, almost 70 years ago.

The late Queen Elizabeth II visited the aftermath, witnessing the devastation caused by floods in the Norfolk area on February 2, 1953 – and now her grandson William, whose countryside home of Anmer Hall is near to Snettisham, appeared to want to pay his own respects.

Prince William joined locals at the Memorial Hall following a service at St Mary’s Church, reported the Eastern Daily Press.

Reverand Dan Tansey, who did not know for sure if the royal father-of-three was going to attend the event, said: ‘He was lovely, very friendly and very engaged. I think he spoke to everyone there.

‘It was a lovely day. It was such an important day for the village, and the Prince was really glad to hear about the village and everything which had happened. He seemed genuinely concerned for the community and for the sorrowful day.’

Due to the floods in 1953, 307 people in coastal towns and villages lost their lives. Around 24,000 homes were damaged and more than 30,000 people were moved to safety. 

The late Queen Elizabeth II (pictured left) visited the aftermath, witnessing the devastation caused by floods in the Norfolk area on February 2, 1953

Prince William, 40, appeared smart in a blue jumper teamed with a matching check shirt as he chatted with members of the community who were gathered at Snettisham Memorial Hall to remember the victims of the 1953 floods

Prince William joined locals at the Memorial Hall following a service at St Mary’s Church 

More than 200 lives were lost at sea, including fishermen and passengers on the Irish Channel ferry Princess Victoria. Around 1,000 miles of British coast, from Shetland to Kent, was affected by the storm.

Sea defences burst in more than 1,000 places. Coastal towns in Lincolnshire, Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex and Kent were devastated as sea water surged into the streets.

Many people spent a freezing night on rooftops, awaiting rescue by firemen, police and soldiers. At King’s Lynn in Norfolk, a 6ft wave crashed through the centre of the town.

On Thursday, William congratulated the finalists of his Earthshot Prize as he met them for the first time at a retreat in the grounds of Windsor Great Park.

William joined the 2022 finalists at Cumberland Lodge. He met each finalist in turn, asking them what he could do to help them.

Reverand Dan Tansey, who did not know for sure if the royal father-of-three was going to attend the event, said: ‘He was lovely, very friendly and very engaged. I think he spoke to everyone there.’

On Thursday, William (pictured right) congratulated the finalists of his Earthshot Prize as he met them for the first time at a retreat in the grounds of Windsor Great Park