The Prince of Wales was seen in good spirits as he participated in a game of bowls with students at a Welsh school in the city today. Prince William, aged 44, engaged with pupils and athletes gearing up for the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games at The London Welsh School in Hanwell.
Meanwhile, in a different part of town, Prince William’s younger brother faced a legal setback upon losing his high-profile £50 million privacy lawsuit against the Daily Mail publisher.
The Duke of Sussex, aged 41, was discussing the Invictus Games at Chatham House in London when news of the legal ruling emerged. In contrast, Prince William was busy with an event in west London.
During his visit, Prince William wished the team from Ysgol Gymraeg Llundain and the Commonwealth Games athletes good luck. He expressed excitement for a summer filled with sports events, including the World Cup and the upcoming Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
Interacting with the athletes, Prince William shared his hopes for the team to achieve multiple gold medals. He also listened to the inspiring story of Julie Thomas, a decorated para bowls athlete from Wales who overcame challenges after losing her eyesight in 2014.
Ms. Thomas mentioned that Prince William showed genuine interest in the athletes and was warm and enthusiastic during their interaction. She also revealed that Prince William mentioned his children would cheer her on during her performance in Glasgow.
As a parting gesture, the school gifted Prince William three toy versions of Finnie, the official mascot of the Glasgow Commonwealth Games, for his children. Earlier in the engagement, a life-size Finnie the unicorn greeted the Prince, and they engaged in a playful “secret handshake.”
Before leaving, Prince William received a tie featuring the official Glasgow 2026 games tartan and Team Wales T-shirts for his family. The school, established in 1958, holds a unique position as the only Welsh-language primary school outside of Wales and Patagonia, contributing to the preservation and promotion of the Welsh language among families in London.
During discussions with long-time teachers at the school, Prince William expressed his admiration for the school’s work and the challenges children face in learning Welsh alongside other subjects. He highlighted the natural process of bilingual thinking among young learners.
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