Prince William has been praised after an encounter on a walkabout which a royal fan described online as "confronting". The Prince of Wales was greeted by locals during his trip to Ilminster, Somerset, earlier this month when he was put in a potentially awkward position by one fan.
William, 44, met the woman among a crowd of well-wishers and she brandished a handbag decorated with an image of his late mother, Diana, Princess of Wales. As William and his admirer take each other's hands, the royal says: "Oh look. Oh wow. Amazing. Thank you. It's very nice to see you."
Mixed reactions on social media
Opinion among royal fans on social media was divided over the handbag tribute being drawn to William's attention. Some wrote in Instagram that the encounter was "so odd", adding "poor William". Another said, "Bit confronting", according to Hello! magazine.
Others were full of praise, with one asking: "Can you imagine having the most wonderful mother loved all over the world?" They added: "Wow." Another praised the future king, noting: "He is just a gentleman and full of love towards everyone."
Remembering Diana
Diana died in a car crash in Paris in 1997. William was aged 15 at the time, while his brother, Prince Harry, was 12. Both have spoken movingly about the impact of their mother's death, with William on Mother's Day in March saying he remembers Diana every day.
The Duke of Sussex earlier this month addressed his grief for the late Princess of Wales, telling the Masterclass learning platform that for many years he felt he had to be sad to prove he missed her. Harry described himself as a "student of grief", adding he went to war twice in the British Army thinking he could "outrun" his feelings.
Next year marks 30 years since the death of Diana, who would have turned 65 on July 1 had she lived. Harry is said to be exploring the idea of developing a documentary about his mother while William, according to media reports, has not accepted offers to take part in TV tributes.
Visit to Somerset
William was in Somerset for the launch of a new project with the National Emergencies Trust, of which the prince is patron. The Ready Together project provides communities across the UK with practical guidance to help them prepare for and respond to emergencies.
The Prince of Wales met members of the Ilminster Resilience Group, which has supported locals during severe flooding, and visited Sweet Surprise, a café providing opportunities for adults with learning disabilities. His visit concluded at Ilminster Fire Station, where William met Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service firefighters. He also learned about mapping and forecasting tools being used to prepare for the growing risk of wildfires.
Royal fans were given an insight into the Waleses' TV viewing during the visit, which saw the Celebrity Traitors' star, Ross Kemp, join the prince. Kemp is currently on TV in the second series of the hit BBC show alongside other contestants trying to win a £100,000 for a charity of their choice. The former Eastenders actor is also involved with the National Emergencies Trust.
William told a group of youngsters in Ilminster that he would try and find out from Kemp what happened in the show. He joked: "Do you watch The Traitors? I’m going to get the answer to what happens and I am going to tell you all later. Spoiler alert today… he’s here..."
