William revealed intimate details about his grandmother’s dedication to her horses, joking: “I think she would have liked a few more winners.” He told the surprised members that the Queen had “an old iPad” which she used to watch foals being born through a remote camera system.
The prince added that “a lot of foals were born at Sandringham”, highlighting the Queen’s hands-on approach to her breeding programme even in her later years.
Royal family insights
The conversation took a personal turn when William joked about his son Prince George’s contrasting behaviour in public and private. “He’s a character, he’s a very good boy … when George is behind closed doors it’s a different matter,” the prince revealed with a smile.
William referenced Prince Louis’s well-documented antics at major state occasions like Trooping the Colour, noting there was “five years difference between them” when explaining the boys’ varying behaviour.
Royal couple’s warm reception
The Sunningdale WI branch hosted the event in their small hall, complete with an array of tempting cakes that neither William nor Kate could resist. The Princess of Wales, whose attendance had not been expected, joined conversations at multiple tables throughout the reception.
Kate praised the organisation’s creative spirit, telling one group: “The making and creating of the WI is at the heart of your organisation.” When she described home activities with her children, William playfully interjected: “There was a bit of sloe gin-making I was involved with.”
Lighthearted exchanges
The prince’s natural charm emerged during playful exchanges with members. When he asked: “Can you have honorary male members of the WI?” the group responded with a resounding “No” in chorus, prompting William to smile and concede: “Point taken.”
The conversation took a more serious turn when William appeared to hint at a future project supporting the nation’s charity air ambulance network. Drawing on his experience as a helicopter pilot with East Anglian Air Ambulance, he noted his former charity “had to raise £9 million a year – an insane amount of money”.
Air ambulance sustainability
The prince’s comments suggested ongoing concern about the financial challenges facing emergency air services across the country. “We have to make a way to make it sustainable,” William said, indicating potential future involvement in addressing funding gaps within the air ambulance sector.
His two-year service as a helicopter pilot with East Anglian Air Ambulance clearly left a lasting impression on the future king’s understanding of these vital emergency services.
Historic WI connection
Queen Elizabeth II maintained an 80-year association with the Women’s Institute, joining in 1943 and serving as president of the Sandringham WI from 2003 until her death in 2022. The late Queen was an active member who regularly attended the New Year meeting each January at Sandringham.
The organisation has evolved significantly from its traditional “jam and Jerusalem” image, with the Rylstone and District WI in North Yorkshire launching the famous naked calendar craze in 1999 that inspired Calendar Girls.
Sources used: “PA Media” Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.