Prince William told cyclist Geraint Thomas that his son George had trouble sleeping as a baby, as the two men swapped parenting stories at Buckingham Palace.
The Duke of Cambridge was awarding the Tour de France winner with an OBE today when the pair struck up a ‘surreal’ conversation about their children.
Double Olympic champion Thomas revealed that William asked him about his three-week-old son as he was pinning the medal to his chest.
Thomas, 33, said: ‘He asked how the sleepless nights were going.
Prince William today presented Geraint Thomas with an OBE for services to cycling at Buckingham Palace
Tour de France winner Thomas, 33, said it was ‘surreal’ to meet the Duke of Cambridge and share parenting tales as he collected his OBE
‘He said their first one took a while for his sleep to kick in.
‘You don’t really know what to expect, but to chat to him about the rugby and my baby was surreal.’
Thomas, who was recognised for his services to cycling at a royal investiture ceremony today, shot to sporting fame when he won the coveted Tour de France competition with Team Sky.
Speaking after the Prince made him an Order of the British Empire, the new father from Cardiff said: ‘It was an honour to meet him. It was surreal.’
Also recognised in the ceremony at Buckingham Palace was veteran photographer Terence O’Neill who has snapped some of the most famous faces of the past century.
After making his way back from the red carpet in a wheelchair as he recovers from prostate cancer, Mr O’Neill gushed over the Duchess of Cambridge who he said was an impressive snapper.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge with their newborn son Prince George after his birth in July 2013
The 81-year-old said: ‘She’s a very good photographer. She will keep it in the family.’
And while Kate is handy with a camera, Mr O’Neill also said she is an ‘excellent’ subject.
The photographer, who has captured the likes of Winston Churchill and Elvis Presley, said: ‘There have been some incredible people.
‘I couldn’t really even compare – his (the Duke of Cambridge’s) wife is also an excellent subject.’
Receiving a CBE from Prince William, he said: ‘It surpasses anything I’ve had happen to me in my life.’
Others to collect honours on Tuesday included Silverback Films co-founder Alastair Fothergill, who received his OBE for services to film.
Photographer Terence O’Neill, who has captured high-profile figures from Winston Churchill to Nelson Mandela, Elvis, and Nicole Kidman, collected his CBE for services to photography
Mr Fothergill produced several series narrated by Sir David Attenborough including the Netflix series Our Planet and the BBC’s Planet Earth.
He said William recognised him after they met earlier in the year in Davos when the duke interviewed Sir David.
Mr Fothergill said the duke had been ‘very supportive’ of his conservation work on television.
He said: ‘It was nice to talk to him about that and continuing plans for the environment and his passion for the environment.
‘The duke is such a passionate advocate for the natural world.’
Production designer Karen Christie, who is known as Bunny Christie, said it was ‘really fun’ to have received an OBE for her services to theatre.
She said: ‘We were talking about going to the theatre and he said he needed to go to the theatre more and I agreed with him.’
Tour de France winner Geraint Thomas poses with his Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) medal following an investiture ceremony at Buckingham Palace
Thomas, wearing the overall leader’s yellow jersey, celebrates as he crosses the finish line to win the twelfth stage of the 105th edition of the Tour de France
Author Sarah Waters also received an OBE from the duke for her services to literature.
Ms Waters, who was short-listed for the Man Booker Prize, said William was a ‘very calm’ presence.
The novelist said: ‘He asked me about my books and he said he doesn’t get much time to read, understandably, but he’s into audio books.
Wildlife conservationist Jonathan Vaughan said it was ‘delightful’ to receive his MBE from the duke given his involvement with conservation.
Mr Vaughan, who is the executive director of the Lilongwe Wildlife Trust in Malawi, was recognised for his services to combating the illegal wildlife trade.
He said: ‘It’s a topic the duke knows well.’
Among those knighted on Tuesday were Rolls-Royce chairman Sir Ian Davis for his service to business and Sir Frederick Hazlewood, also for his service to business.
Sir Ian said it ‘felt great’ to have been recognised at such a ‘special’ ceremony.
He said: ‘The prince is absolutely charming. It’s very nice to get the honour and recognition.’
Author Sarah Waters, who received an OBE from the duke for her services to literature, said William was a ‘very calm’ presence