British heir to the throne Prince William visited the southern English coastal town of Hastings on Thursday. The very place that British schoolchildren primarily associate with one year: 1066. That was when William the Conqueror defeated the Anglo-Saxon King Harold Godwinson and seized the English crown. The fact that a William of all people appeared there while his brother Harry was independently attending appointments in Birmingham in central England on the same day provided some fodder for mockery in British media reports. In his autobiography "Reserve", Harry had revealed that the princes call each other "Harold" and "Willy" among themselves.
While the actual site of the battle lies several miles outside the town center, the symbolic undertone remained. According to legend, the historical Harold is said to have fallen on the battlefield with an arrow in his eye. William arrived in the heart of Hastings in befitting style via the East Hill Cliff Railway, Britain's steepest funicular railway, which brings visitors down from the cliff into the old town.
In oppressive heat, according to a "The Standard" report, numerous onlookers waited for the prince around midday. He told those waiting that it was his first visit to the town. He advised the children in the crowd to cool off in the sea and to "splash around vigorously".
Brothers Go Separate Ways
Brother Harry meanwhile spent the day about 250 kilometers away. In Birmingham, the Duke of Sussex visited a children's hospital to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the care program of the charity WellChild, of which he is patron.
William's most eye-catching appearance was probably at Hastings Adventure Golf, a mini golf course on the seafront promenade. The Mini Golf World Championship 2026 had been held there in June. The Royal was particularly taken with the famous windmill hole, where you have to maneuver the ball past rotating blades. He only got it through on his second attempt and needed three strokes for the hole.
William played a total of five holes, playing part of them against Murray Thompson, one of the country's top-ranked mini golfers. When he sank a hole-in-one three times in a row, the prince commented appreciatively: "You make it look so easy." About his own experience, he said: "We've played a few times. The kids love it." He jokingly remarked that next time he'd prefer to compete against eight-year-olds to have a better chance.
William is "confident" for the World Cup Quarterfinal
He completed two additional holes with young people from the Hastings organization XTrax, which supports disadvantaged young people. Between strokes, William spoke extensively with them about their lives and future plans, wished them luck in their job search, and promised that their concerns would be heard and respected.
Earlier, William had been made an honorary member of the "Winkle Club", a charity founded in 1900 by local fishermen. As a sign of membership, he was presented with a silver whelk shell. "That's a magnificent whelk. I'll take good care of my whelk", said the prince.
The heir to the throne was also coaxed into making a sports prediction. Asked about England's upcoming World Cup quarterfinal against Norway, William replied with a smile: "I'm confident."
