That sounds like my grandfather’ Prince William’s heartwarming reaction to cheeky anecdote about Prince Philip during Northern Ireland trip
Prince William had a heartwarming reaction to being told a cheeky anecdote about his grandfather in Northern Ireland yesterday.
The royal, 41, travelled to six locations across the UK in 48 hours earlier this week to mark the launch of his new homelessness campaign Homewards.
Yesterday, the father-of-three visited the East Belfast Mission’s headquarters – as it is one of the charities he will be working with over the next five years to help eradicate homelessness in the UK.
While the royal was being shown around the Skainos Centre, a Methodist minister told William about his late grandparents’ visit to Belfast in March 2008.
He explained how The Queen and Prince Philip were informed about plans to build the Skainos Centre 15 years ago.
The Prince of Wales pictured during his tour of the Skainos Centre in Belfast yesterday. The royal was told how his grandfather helped the East Belfast Mission secure their funding with a cheeky comment
When the monarch asked why it hadn’t been built yet, she was told that there weren’t enough funds to put their plans into action.
The minister told William yesterday: [Prince Philip] just immediately asked [the politicians], “why don’t you just give them the money?””
However, the minister admitted that he’d slightly altered Philip’s exact phrasing when telling the story to his grandson.
He added: ‘There was an expletive in there but I’m not going to say that. And three weeks later the money turned up.’
In response, Prince William chuckled and said: ‘That sounds like my grandfather!’
While greeting wellwishers outside the centre, Prince William told one royal fan: ‘The Reverend has been telling me stories about my grandfather.’
The royal was also filmed shaking hands and chatting to a fan who appeared to be singing the praises of the charity’s on-site Refresh Cafe.
He asked: ‘Have you been for a fry up?’ William then replied: ‘There’s a fry-up waiting for people! I’ve got to get out there.’
‘That sounds like my grandfather!’ The Prince of Wales laughed as he was told about his grandfather’s cheeky comment to politicians. The pair pictured together in 2005
Following the cheeky interaction, the man then got the crowd cheering from William.
William was officially welcomed to the Northern Ireland capital by Lord Lieutenant Dame Fionnuala Jay-O’Boyle as well as Belfast Lord Mayor Ryan Murphy and East Belfast MP Gavin Robinson.
During the visit, Prince William met with charity workers who have been asked to form a coalition with Homewards and participated in a round-table discussion.
The Prince of Wales has set his sights on making rough sleeping, sofa surfing and other forms of temporary accommodation a ‘rare, brief and unrepeated’ issue.
The royal has taken inspiration from Finland, where the problem of homelessness has been virtually eradicated, with his new initiative called Homewards.
The father-of-three was all smiles as he spoke with a young royal fan outside The East Belfast Mission headquarters
Prince William seen shaking hands with a royal fan who asked if he had had a fry-up in Belfast yesterday morning
William’s new five-year project will focus on six locations to begin with and local businesses, organisations and individuals will be encouraged to join forces and develop ‘bespoke’ action plans to tackle homelessness with up to £500,000 in funding.
The future king has become increasingly passionate about the issue of homelessness in the UK – having been first taken to visit the charity The Passage by his late mother Princess Diana.
Announcing his new project on Sunday, the Prince of Wales: ‘In a modern and progressive society, everyone should have a safe and secure home, be treated with dignity and given the support they need.
‘Through Homewards, I want to make this a reality and over the next five years, give people across the UK hope that homelessness can be prevented when we collaborate.’
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