Prince William awkwardly dropped a royal fan’s iPhone wallet causing the crowd to gasp during a visit to a school in Estonia on Thursday.
The Prince of Wales, 42, greeted well-wishers ahead of a visit to the Estonian Cleantech Association on the first day of his two-day state visit to Tallinn.
He agreed to dozens of requests from fans for photographs – even holding the phone himself and declaring he had become ‘ a bit of a master’ at it – as he was mobbed in a public square.
Unfortunately, as he held one phone the charger on the back of it smashed to the floor – but the girls were so excited that they told him not to worry and ran off squealing.
Hundreds of royal fans had gathered outside Cleantech Association in Tallinn, waiting to catch a glimpse of the prince after he attended a workshop with a range of renewable energy startups and heard how Estonia and other Baltic states are ushering in a new era of energy security.
Earlier in the day the future King praised the Ukrainian people for their ‘resilience and strength’ at The Freedom School in Tallinn, which was founded by the Ministry of Education and Research of Estonia in May 2022 to respond to the war in Ukraine.
Just last month, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania asserted their energy independence from Russia by desynchronising from the Russian-controlled electricity grid and joining the European electricity network.
This significant change has allowed the Baltic states to achieve greater energy independence and integrate and draw on more renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind.
Prince William awkwardly dropped a royal fan’s iPhone wallet causing the crowd to gasp during a visit to a school in Estonia on Thursday
As founder of the Earthshot Prize, the prince is a huge advocate for finding innovative solutions to tackle environmental challenges and during his visit to the Cleantech Association he was able to meet Estonian clean energy companies who are doing just that.
Anni Oviir, CEO of LCA Support who met the Prince, said: ‘The UK has been a loyal friend to Estonia for more than a century so we’re really excited to welcome the Prince of Wales on his first visit here.
‘While security understandably gets the most attention, we’re grateful that Prince William is also using his time here to learn about how Estonian technology and expertise is helping build a more sustainable world.’
William then headed outside to greet the union flag-waving public who had gathered outside during his visit to Cleantech.
Putting a green puffa jacket by Canadian sportswear brand Lulelemon over the top of his jacket, he spent 45 minutes shaking hands in chilly conditions, posing for endless selfies and chatting with members of the public.
One woman was so overcome by meeting him that she lost her footing and nearly fell to the ground.
The prince was handed flowers, soft toys and even a basket of fresh fruit and vegetables from the flag-waving crowd.
Epp, who didn’t want to give her last name, was overjoyed to have met William and said, ‘It’s a historic day for me. I took the hand of the British prince, and I will never forget it.’
On the first day of his two-day state visit, William greeted well-wishers ahead of a visit to the Estonian Cleantech Association
During the meet and greet the royal attempted to take a selfie with one fan but he accidently dropped her case and embarrassingly apologised for the mistake
The Prince of Wales accepted a friendship bracelet in the Ukrainian colours before playing basketball with students during a visit to school
Prince William played basketball during a visit to The Freedom School, which was founded by the Ministry of Education and Research of Estonia
The prince took part in basketball drills with Ukrainian students during a visit to The Freedom School in Tallinn
Banker Julius Lwanga, 35, was still excited minutes after meeting William and said: ‘I asked for his autograph and he said he wouldn’t sing my book but would pose for a selfie.
‘I feel over awed I’m going to the pub for a drink.’
Jevgenia Hammerberg, 39, from Tallinn had brought her young daughter to see the prince and gave him a doll of the classic Estonian children’s book character Sipsik, which the prince said looked similar to cartoon creation Dennis the Menace.
Ms Hammerberg said: ‘I’m quite a fan of the royal family, I like the traditions and history not just the dresses of Kate Middleton.
‘I think it was an amazing opportunity to meet somebody from the royal family in Estonia – it was really cool’.
The crowds whooped, cheered and clapped as he hopped in the back of a UK-number plated Range Rover.
Later, he met with teachers from Ukraine to hear about their experiences at the school and how they have helped students settle in Tallinn.
In a sweet moment William accepted a friendship bracelet in the Ukrainian colours before playing basketball with students.
On the first day of his two-day state visit, the future King met with teachers from Ukraine to hear about their experiences at the school and how they have helped students settle in Tallinn
Elsewhere the royal, who looked casual in a grey jumper and navy trousers, wiped off his blazer jacket and got stuck into a game of basketball with Ukrainian pupils from the school
During the game, Williams first shot came close, bouncing tantalising around the rim
Student counsellor Yelyzaveta Lukiianchuk, 18, asked if she could give the royal a friendship bracelet made by the pupils in the Ukrainian colours of blue and yellow.
As the teacher fixed the bracelet on Williams wrist he said: ‘Brilliant, my daughter will probably try to poach it off me later. She loves all of these friendship bracelets.
‘Thank you very much I love the Ukrainian colours, thank you that is very kind.’
The royal, who looked casual in a grey jumper and navy trousers, wiped off his blazer jacket and got stuck into a game of basketball with Ukrainian pupils from the school.
William appeared in great spirits as he joined students on the school’s basketball court.
One pupil told him: ‘I think a lot about my home.’
Asked whether he had hope for the future, he told the prince: ‘We will never give up.’
‘That sort of resilience is so important,’ William said.
During the game, Williams first shot came close, bouncing tantalising around the rim.
William meeting teachers from Ukraine during a visit to The Freedom School in Tallinn
Elsewhere the prince also attended a Ukrainian language lesson after revealing the ‘language was incredibly hard to learn’
William learnt to say, admittedly not very confidently, good afternoon in both Estonian and Ukrainian
Asked whether he had hope for the future, he told the prince: ‘We will never give up.’ ‘That sort of resilience is so important,’ William said
Outside William greeted members of the public and offered to take a selfie of himself and a royal fan
In an awkward moment the prince dropped the woman’s phone and he rushed to pick it backup before handing it to her
Prince of Wales took selfies with well-wishers during his visit to Estonia
The Prince of Wales posed for a selfie during a walkabout to meet members of the public in Tallinn
The prince took selfies with well-wishers ahead of a visit to the Estonian Cleantech Association
The prince tried to get a picture with each member of the public during the walk about
The royal beamed for snaps as he was warmly greeting by the public
His other three shots went wide, despite him taking off his jacket and throwing it to one side, but his team did make it to the finals and win.
Elsewhere the prince also attended a Ukrainian language lesson after revealing the ‘language was incredibly hard to learn.’
William learnt to say, admittedly not very confidently, good afternoon in both Estonian and Ukrainian.
Taking seat with students aged 16 to 18 in a Ukrainian language lesson, he told them encouraging: ‘It’s looking forward to the future in a positive way, it’s very important.
‘It’s been a very difficult few years for you guys. Everyone sees that. What I love is (that) the Ukrainian resilience is everywhere.
‘You all are very smiley and very strong and very spiritual people. And honestly that comes across everywhere.
‘Even the Ukrainians I’ve met in the UK and like that – very resilient and very strong about things. You have a very good spirit, very good souls, it’s very important.’
Yelyzaveta told him about the languages they had been learning since many of them fled their homeland after the Russian invasion.
Prince William has arrived in Estonia and met the country’s president Alar Karis
The pair posed for pictures on Thursday in Estonia’s capital Tallinn
William spoke Estonian school children as he met the president of Estonia Alar Karis
The Prince of Wales and President of Estonia, Alar Karis depart the presidential office on March 20
William said: ‘I’ve learnt that the Estonian and Ukrainian languages are not very similar at all. It’s very hard to learn each other’s languages.
‘In the Uk we don’t do quite so many languages. We are not as good at learning so many languages. ‘
Asking whether he could sit down and chat, the prince was taught how to say good afternoon first in Ukrainian, repeating it several times, and then Estonian, which he struggled with much more.
‘My goodness this is going to be very confusing, I need a whole year of these lessons:’ he smiled. ‘It’s quite tricky when one word means three different things.’
The students told him they were happy to be continuing to learn their native language as well as helping them to settle in a strange country.
‘How has it been settling in here over the years?’ Asked the prince.
‘Is the difficult getting information from back home? What do you hope is going to happen soon? Do you hope there will be a deal soon and the fighting will stop?
‘We hope and believe the war will stop,’ he was told.
‘It’s too early to even think about now but is your life in Estonia now or do you one day think you will be back in Ukraine?’ he enquired.
He was told they all hoped to go home. He also spoke to teachers and psychologists who have been helping the children with the trauma they have experienced.
‘Are you hearing from some of the children? Do they find it difficult to talk?’ he asked.
‘You must be keeping a careful eye on them.’
He added: ‘With everything that is going on in the world right now you need to keep a sense of optimism. The Ukrainian spirit is strong.’
It is William’s first visit to the Baltic state, the royal will mainly act in his role as Colonel-in-Chief of the Mercian Regiment, which is taking over NATO defence duties in the country from the Royal Dragoon Guards.
Estonia is on NATO’s front line with Russia, with British troops working with allies to provide a deterrent to aggression in the region.
In addition the future King will learn more about Estonia’s efforts in the renewable energy and technology sector, which is particularly significant as it recently disconnected from the Russian-controlled electricity grid.
Earlier in the day, William was warmly welcomed by Estonia’s president as he kicked off a two-day trip.
The prince was all smiles as he shook hands with Alar Karis at the Presidential Palace Kadriorg.
He arrived at 2.35pm local time and walked up a grand staircase where the president showed him the gardens through the window.
They then smiled and shook hands with each other, before the Prince was directed to sign the guest book with a gold pen – as Mr Karis joked: ‘Hopefully the pen will work.’
William replied, ‘Oh, hopefully’, before explaining: ‘I’m left-handed.’
He sat at an oak table on a navy blue chair that was embroidered with gold flowers and gold stripes. Next to the table were the flags of Estonia and the United Kingdom.
He walked through the oak-panelled Presidential doors and headed into the 100-year-old palace’s Blue Cabinet room to have his meeting.
The pair had tea, coffee and a selection of small sweet treats, as president Mr Karis told him: ‘We did fight for our independence – and later on as well with Afghanistan, and now. With British troops at Tapa we really, we really appreciate it.’
Mr Karis also said that ‘we really appreciate having British troops at Tapa Camp in Estonia, adding: ‘This morning the Defence Minister said he’d probably send some troops to Ukraine. Hopefully some of these troops will stay also.’
The ‘warm’ meeting with the president lasted for about 35 minutes, with the prince thanking President Karis for his hospitality and the opportunity to visit Estonia – and he took the opportunity to discuss the strength of the UK-Estonia bilateral relationship.
William also spoke about his visit to the Tapa military base tomorrow and his support for the Mercian regiment while on deployment here as their Colonel in Chief.
Significantly, they also discussed the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and Estonia’s support.
A Kensington Palace spokesperson said today’s get-together was an ‘important meeting for the Prince to highlight the strong bilateral relationship between the United Kingdom and Estonia’.
They added: ‘The meeting also allows His Royal Highness the opportunity to applaud Estonia’s strong support for Ukraine since the conflict with Russia.
‘It is also yet another example of the Prince of Wales representing the United Kingdom at the highest level on the global stage.’
William’s arrival today in Estonia – just 125 miles from its border with Russia – marks one of his most high-profile foreign engagements in recent years.
On arrival at the President’s office, the prince was greeted by a group of young children from Tallinn Lotte Kindergarten.
They presented him with a cuddly dog called Lotte, which is also the name of one of Estonia’s most famous children’s stories – and there was also a card from the children to Prince George, Princes Charlotte and Prince Louis.
The Prince shook hands with the President before the two men went inside to pose for official pictures and sat down for bilateral talks set to last around 45 minutes – and William signed an official guest book while querying the pen he was given.
The visit highlights the heir to the throne’s growing role as an international statesman, after he became the first member of the Royal Family to meet President Trump after his election victory last year.