Prince William is praised for using sign language to congratulate deaf award recipient at Buckingham Palace investiture ceremony
- Prince William was at Buckingham Palace today presenting awards to recipients
- Awarded language expert Alex Duguid with MBE for his service to deaf viewers
- Many praised the Prince for trying to use sign language during the presentation
Prince William has been hailed as ‘wonderful’ after he showed off his sign language skills today while presenting awards at Buckingham Palace.
The 37-year-old beamed as he signed ‘congratulations’ as he gave an MBE to sign language expert Alex Duguid, who has signed Emmerdale and Coronation Street for deaf ITV viewers for decades.
The Duke of Cambridge stepped in for the Queen during the ceremony and also bestowed awards on Sir Andrew Strauss, who was made a Knight Bachelor of the British Empire.
He also awarded rapper and singer MIA – real name Mathangi Arulpragasam, an MBE.
Alexander Duguid is made an MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire) for services to deaf people and to British sign language education by the Duke of Cambridge at Buckingham Palace
Social media users praised William for trying to use sign language during the presentation.
One Twitter user said: ‘Well done, Prince William! Did you all know his Mum Princess Diana learned sign language as patron of the British Deaf Association?’
Another said: ‘How wonderful of Prince William to take the time to learn sign language. That is how a royal with integrity acts. So incredibly thoughtful.’
Another added: ‘This made me so emotional. A video of Prince William using sign language, will show this to my niece. I’ll never understand why sign language isn’t mandatory in school. Thank you.’
Prince William smiles and concentrates as he smiles and gives an MBE to expert Alex Duguid while using sign language
Rapper and singer MIA – real name Mathangi Arulpragasam is made an MBE by William before he knighted former England captain Andrew Strauss at an investiture ceremony at Buckingham Palace today
While one user also said: ‘Congratulations Alex on your well deserved award. It’s also great to see Prince William trying some sign language.’
Prince Williams mother, the late Princess of Wales, had previously been a patron of the British Deaf Association (BDA).
The organisation had previously hailed her as an ‘inspiration to the Deaf community’.
She learned British sign language in 1983.
Social media users praised Prince William after he attempted to use sign language earlier today
The praise for William will come as a welcome relief to the Royal family who have had a turbulent week after Meghan and Harry’s shock announcement.
This morning Prince William surfaced for the first time since the Queen agreed the couple could quit as senior Royals and plan a new life together in North America with their eight-month-old son.
The Duke of Cambridge was on the school run in London this morning after spending yesterday afternoon in face-to-face talks with his grandmother, father and Harry amid claims of a deep rift between the two siblings and their spouses after a series of rows dating back a year.