The Prince of Wales visited Ilminster in Somerset on 6 October to launch a new project with the National Emergencies Trust, and clips from his visit are still going viral. The heir to the throne made a 80-year-old woman's day when he posed for a photo with her on her birthday, moving her to tears, and now his interaction with the younger generation has sparked online chatter, too.
A video is circulating online of the Prince talking to a youngster about her cherished duck teddy. The 44-year-old royal asked the little girl, who was dressed in pink with character ears on, if her toy slept on her pillow or if she cuddled up to him. During the chat, William crouched down to talk eye-to-eye with the child, sparking comments of relatability from fans.
With three children himself, William knows exactly how to engage with youngsters. The comments section was awash with praise for the royal, including: "He is a sweetheart..he just knows what to say."
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Comparisons were made between William and his late mother, Princess Diana, as she was once known as the "People's Princess" for her down-to-earth nature.
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"He's just like his late mom...very kind," penned one user and: "The people's prince, a great human being, a class act, true royalty," added another. A third wrote: "So charming and natural, he acts like Diana did. Heartwarming! I don't believe in negative statements about him. He will be a good king one day."
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Prince William's potentially awkward fan interaction
During the same outing in Ilminster, Somerset, Prince William encountered a woman who brought along a handbag printed with a portrait of his late mother. Upon noticing the unique tribute, he pointed at the bag, and warmly remarked, "Oh look, oh wow," before graciously posing for a photograph with her.
The clip quickly went viral across social media, sparking widespread discussion among royal watchers. Many fans online praised William for his gracious and polite reaction to the unexpected homage, while others pondered the emotional impact of public mementos featuring his late mother and noted how this could be difficult for the prince.
The prince was just a few months shy of his 15th birthday when his mother tragically died in Paris. The royal opened up about his on-going emotions regarding his grief in the BBC documentary, Football, Prince William and Our Mental Health.
He described being a father as "life-changing" adding: "When you’ve been through something traumatic in life, like your mother dying when you were young, the emotions come back in leaps and bounds because it's a different phase of life, and there’s no one there to kind of help you."