While all eyes have been on the King to see how he’s adjusting to being monarch, his son Prince William has been determinedly going about making the role of Prince of Wales all his own.
An unannounced visit to Poland to thank the country for providing military and humanitarian support to neighbouring Ukraine since the Russian invasion shows how keen William is to use his position to be a global statesman, highlighting causes he believes in.
After details of the secretive two-day trip – during which William also thanked British troops stationed there – were revealed, a Kensington Palace spokesperson said, “It was important for the prince to travel to Poland to not only recognise the duty of our troops but to also shine a light on the ongoing humanitarian crisis. This is a continuation of the evolution of his role as a global statesman.
“We often talk about him using his global platform for the good of the environment via Earthshot [the prize founded by William to acknowledge initiatives making a difference to the planet]. But this is the first opportunity for him to take a visit of this kind as Prince of Wales and given that it is one of the biggest political issues facing every country on the planet, this is a demonstration of him growing as a statesman-like figure.”
The prince of selfies! Polish fans took a shine to the royal.
The Poland trip did come as a surprise as the royal family is supposed to stay out of political issues. However, senior royals like William and Catherine, Princess of Wales, and the King and Queen Consort Camilla, have spoken about their support for Ukraine and its people because they see the Russian invasion as a humanitarian crisis. That’s why William also asked to meet Ukrainian refugees in Poland and talked to them about their experiences of having to flee their country.
Royal writer Laura Bundock says the trip was a “personal mission” for William. “Although the royal family can’t be directly involved with politics, this was ‘soft power’ working at its hardest, putting Prince William on a diplomatic charm offensive.”
Royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams adds that William is the “ideal diplomat” and visiting such a sensitive area “shows Britain cares and is the ultimate soft power”.
William’s trip started with a visit to Polish and British troops in the city of Rzeszów, a hub for military and humanitarian aid bound for nearby Ukraine. He thanked them for “all you’re doing, keeping everyone safe”.
He also went to a converted office block in Warsaw that houses recent arrivals from Ukraine, and along with playing table tennis with children there, talked to young people whose lives had been upended.
“It must be very difficult for you to start a new life in a new country,” he said. “It’s amazing how resilient you are. That shines out.”
Wills and Ukraine refugee Tymofii, four, hit it right off.
The prince also thanked Poles who have taken in refugees. “I want to pay tribute to the inspiring humanity of the Polish people. You have opened your hearts as much as your homes.”
William also used the occasion to pay a solemn tribute to Polish people who have lost their lives in conflict, including World War II. He laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Warsaw and left a note attached which read, “In memory of those who made the ultimate sacrifice.”
The whirlwind trip included a meeting with Poland’s president, Andrzej Duda, who has been a prominent ally of Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The conversation focused on aid for Ukraine, and William thanked the Polish people for their generosity and hospitality.
William and Polish President Andrzej Duda.
The Prince of Wales also sent a slightly more subtle message of support, this time for the country’s LGBTQ+ community. When he found out members of his Kensington Palace team had made reservations at a LGBTQ-friendly restaurant, he asked if he could join them. Butero Bistro bills itself as a “queerspace with comfort food” in a country that has been labelled as one of the worst nations in the European Union for LGBTQ rights by advocacy group IGLA-Europe.
The Poland trip is only the start of William’s drive to use his Prince of Wales title and the massive platform it gives him to make a difference in people’s lives, say royal experts.
“It was only a short visit, but one which perhaps says a great deal about William’s international role within the royal family,” says Laura Bundock.
“He knows that as Prince of Wales, he is in a very privileged position,” adds a palace insider. “Although he can’t wade into every issue, he wants to show that he is prepared to stand up for what he believes in.”
