Adoring kids were screaming the Prince of Wales’ name as he made a surprise visit to the Royal Norfolk Show today.
Chants of “William” could be heard across the Showground as the future king made his way around, taking selfies with pupils and meeting young volunteers and farmers.
As William stopped to dish out high fives and take photos with students from Hingham Primary School he remarked: “you’re the loudest children I’ve ever heard – including my own!”
Sam Ollman-Hart, whose son was one of the children to get a selfie with the prince, said: “The kids were so excited to be here and meet him. They were very, very loud and determined to get his attention, which paid off. I don’t think there’s going to be any coming down from this.”
The Prince of Wales also spent time speaking with pupils from Morley Primary School, who invited him to watch them perform songs from Matilda the Musical as part of the Bucket Beats XL, which saw hundreds of school kids attempt to break the record for the largest percussion ensemble using recyclable materials.
He sounded genuinely disappointed as he said: “I might be moving on by then, but if you sing loud enough I’ll keep one ear out.”
As he toured the show meeting emergency services volunteers, the prince spotted a familiar face from his time as a pilot for the East Anglian Air Ambulance.
“I thought I’d get a day off from seeing you,” he joked to former colleague Neil Berry, a doctor for EAA who went on more than 50 missions with the prince.
Dr Berry said: “I remember pushing a really sick guy on a trolley through traffic with William doing most of the pushing.
“We get really close because we’re small teams and we go to some of the most horrendous things people are likely to see, so you bond really quickly.
“If went to really rough jobs we’d all get in touch with each other, including William, and check everyone’s OK.
“I told him we miss him, and it would be good to have him back. He said, ‘I miss you guys too’ and that he’d love to do stuff like that, but he’s obviously got bigger roles to do.”
Continuing his walk around, the prince chatted with volunteers from the East Anglia Children’s Hospices, for which his wifethe Princess of Wales is royal patron.
He asked about the volunteers’ role with the organisation and thanked them for their hard work.
David Tailor, who started volunteering for the hospice following the death of his son Jude in 2014, said the prince was also excited to discuss an upcoming annual polo match, raising money for the charity.
He said: “We were able to thank him for doing that because it does raise a lot of money for EACH. Him and Kate are both incredibly supportive.
“It’s already worthwhile doing our bit for the charity but it’s nice to know you’ve got that kind of support behind you. It’s an extra special treat.”
Rounding up his visit, the royal guest presented awards to young farmers, including the winners of the beef and dairy young handler competition.
He also spent some time petting the winner of the Queen’s prize, a two-year-old British Saanen goat named Teion Meika.
Her owner, Teigh O’Neil, from Holt, said: “He was curious about how you prep a champion goat for an event like this. I think it was a new subject for him. It was nice to see him so interested, it was a great moment.”
Royal Norfolk Show president John Cushing said it was a "real honour" to welcome his "good friend" the Prince of Wales to this summer's event.
The Thursford impresario has a long association with Prince William, who presented him with his OBE in 2020 and has made several visits to Mr Cushing's Thursford Christmas Spectacular, in north Norfolk - including his first public appearance following his engagement to Kate Middleton in 2010.
Mr Cushing said: "It is a real honour to have him here today," he said. "It is good for Norfolk, and good for the show. It has put the icing on the cake.
"I asked him originally way back, five months ago. He has been to Thursford many, many times, and I feel he has done this for me somehow, and my wife Barbara, because we are good friends.
"I had to get used to calling him Your Royal Highness because I have always called him William, and he has always called me John."
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