Speaking to the only welfare officer on the camp, the prince was told that troops respond better to the term “mental fitness” rather than mental health and chatted to soldiers who had just arrived in Estonia.
“It must focus the mind a little bit coming out here, knowing what’s going on the rest of the world, the context,” he said.
“And in fact, the Russian border is only a few hundred miles from here.. it does feel like it’s a bit more of an operational environment rather than just training.”
The prince added: “It’s quite a lot of things to be thinking about while you’re operating out here and does focus the mind a little bit.. what the challenges are coming up.”
William promised to supply a fridge after hearing that one was lacking and asked if they had a toastie machine, noting how much he “loved cheese toasties”.
At the NAAFI, which offers soldiers a place to relax, watch TV, play games and have hot food and drinks, the prince was invited to represent his beloved football team Aston Villa in a table football game against a Man City team.
“This is a big match,” joked William. “One of us can never live this down, you know that. I fear it’s me.”
But the Prince’s side was first to score and he joked that the game was over now he had won.
He asked soldiers about the Camp’s facilities and seemed particularly taken by the fact that they included a sauna.
“That’s a new thing on me, the sauna,” he said, referring to the fact that they are not usually found on military bases in the UK.
“I now have an image of you all in the sauna. Lots of sweaty soldiers is not one to think about. Make sure there are no hydration issues from spending too long in the sauna.”
Elsewhere he discussed the difference between Spring or Winter deployments to the camp, where temperatures can reach -20.
“It’s my first time in Estonia,” he said. “The President was saying to me yesterday how important it is that you guys are here. It goes right to the top of Estonian society.”