Prince William will speak to teachers from war-torn Ukraine during trip to Estonia - where he will also visit British troops
- The Prince of Wales will also meet with the President of Estonia, Alar Karis
- READ MORE: Which brother do Americans prefer - Prince William or Prince Harry?
The Prince of Wales will undertake one of his most high profile foreign engagements in recent years when he visits Estonia next week.
William, 42, will travel to the Baltic state - which shares a 183-mile border with Russia - to visit the Mercian Regiment in his role as Colonel-in-Chief over two days, March 20 and 21.
His chief aim is to support the regiment in their work bolstering NATO’s eastern flank and part of Operation Cabrit.
This is a UK operational deployment to Estonia where British troops are leading a multinational battlegroup as part of the enhanced Forward Presence (eFP).
UK Armed Forces have a leading role in NATO’s eFP in the Baltic States in order to enhance Euro-Atlantic security, reassure its Allies and deter adversaries.
Around 900 British personnel rotate on a continuous basis alongside Danish, French, and host nation Estonian forces.
Whilst in Estonia the prince will also carry out engagements in the capital Tallinn to learn more about how the country has responded to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
And he will spend time looking more at local innovations in renewable energy and technology.
Whilst in Estonia the prince will also carry out engagements in the capital Tallinn to learn more about how the country has responded to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Pictured earlier this week
Prince William and Princess Catherine are pictured at Westminster Abbey for Commonwealth Day on Monday
The heir to the throne’s visit will include an official meeting with the President of Estonia, Alar Karis, and a visit to the Freedom School, which was founded by the Ministry of Education and Research in May 2022 to respond to the war in Ukraine.
He will meet teachers from Ukraine to hear about their experiences and how they have helped students settle in Tallinn and look after their mental wellbeing. William will also take part in sports activities and a Ukrainian language lesson.
The prince will spend one day at Tapa Camp, meeting with Estonian troops before overseeing an official handover ceremony between The Royal Dragoon Guards and the Mercian Regiment to highlight the transfer of authority.
As well as viewing the range of equipment which will be used by the Mercians, he will also visit the field training area and the welfare team. The prince will also pop into the NAAFI - the Naval, Army and Air Force Institute’s shop and canteen, where soldiers and personnel can also relax and socialise.
Estonia and Ukraine have enjoyed a diplomatic relationship since 1921, which was renewed following the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1992.
As a member of the EU, Estonia has firmly supported Ukraine since the Russian invasion, both politically and financially.
The timing of Prince William’s visit will be seen as particularly significant given the daily twists and turns of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and attempts to secure peace.
As part of his environmental remit, William will also visit the Cleantech Association, attending a workshop with a range of renewable energy start-ups.
President of Finland Alexander Stubb (L) met with President of Estonia Alar Karis (R) last month
He will meet teachers from Ukraine to hear about their experiences and how they have helped students settle in Tallinn
The visit is particularly significant as some Baltic States - Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania - recently disconnected from the Russian-controlled electricity grid and joined the main European network.
As well as allowing the country greater energy independence, it also has improved its ability to draw on more renewable energy sources such as solar and wind.
This comes as Prince William showcased his caring side on Tuesday afternoon as he shared cuddles and high-fives with adorable schoolchildren waiting to welcome him to the West Midlands.
The beaming Prince of Wales, 42, proved he can be just as warm-hearted as his wife, Kate, while sharing sweet moments with the little fans from Fibbersley Park Primary Academy in Willenhall.
Thanks to her natural warmth and ability to connect with families, Kate is often referred to as the 'Children's Princess' by royal enthusiasts - but her husband appeared to be just as capable of delighting the younger generations.
From inspiring laughter and cheer to sharing hugs and high-fives, the father-of-three seemed in his element as he greeted the young crowd at the Sporting Khalsa FC.
William, in his role as patron of the Football Association, visited a referee training course at the club as part of the FA’s Reflective and Representative campaign which aims to recruit 1,000 people from Black, Asian and Mixed Heritage backgrounds into refereeing roles.
The course started in July 2023 and combines theory and practical training to support those who are taking their first steps into officiating.
Participants on the course will be equipped with the key skills and knowledge needed to referee grassroots football matches safely and effectively and is aimed at people aged 14 and over who wish to referee mini football, 9 v 9 and 11 v 11 games.
During the visit, the prince met representatives from the FA and Sporting Khalsa to hear about the importance of opening up opportunities in football to young people from diverse backgrounds.
Prince William showcased his caring side on Tuesday afternoon as he shared cuddles and high-fives with adorable schoolchildren waiting to welcome him to the West Midlands
William greeted children from Fibbersley Park Primary Academy who were waving home-made flags and signs. He shook hands and gave high fives, saying: 'Are you missing your lessons right now? Your hands are cold.'
Spotting a child waving a sign that read 'Aston Villa are the best' he stopped to talk and said: 'They're playing tomorrow.'
Pam Dawes, 62, attracted the attention of the prince thanks to her bright orange hair, and said: 'We had a selfie. He loved my hair. He was lovely, bless him. He's made my day.'
When William, 42, finally made it onto the pitch near Wolverhampton, he told the club's directors Manjit Gill and Inder Grewal: 'Sorry to keep you guys waiting. I just broke the record for the number of high fives in ten minutes.'
Remarking that the six-year-old all-weather pitch was 'in good nick', the prince asked: 'What is attracting people to play at the moment from different backgrounds? How are you bringing them in?'
Now two years into its three-year programme, the FA has already exceeded the original target and is looking to grow the numbers further.
It comes nearly five years after a 53-page diversity report compiled by the Black, Asian and Mixed Ethnicity Referee Support Group alleged that some FA observers made racist comments about referees, effectively blocking them from being promoted to the higher leagues.
Sporting Khalsa FC is one of several clubs across the country that is running courses to teach Black, Asian and Mixed Heritage people over the age of 14 how to become match officials.
William, in his role as patron of the Football Association, visited a referee training course at the club as part of the FA’s Reflective and Representative campaign which aims to recruit 1,000 people from Black, Asian and Mixed Heritage backgrounds into refereeing roles
From inspiring laughter and cheer to sharing hugs and high-fives, the father-of-three seemed in his element as he greeted the young crowd at the Sporting Khalsa FC
The beaming Prince of Wales, 42, proved he can be just as warm-hearted as his wife, Kate, while sharing sweet moments with the little fans from Fibbersley Park Primary Academy in Willenhall
It combines theory and practical training to support those who are learning to be referees and other roles.
William took part in a training session in a classroom where students were shown video clips before being asked to decide whether the action on screen warranted a red card, a yellow card, or no card.
He joined students in standing in different sections of the room depending on their decision.
Picking up his red and yellow cards, William joked: 'I'll follow the crowd.'
When asked why he had decided to grant a red card, William gestured to two girls beside him and said: 'I'll take advice from you two.'
He then added: 'I think that it's studs out. Straight leg. I think it's dangerous, because of the height of where it is.'
The prince and his fellow students who had decided it was a red card were told they were right.
William then moved to a football pitch where he was taught about different whistle tones and flag signals.
Jogging up and down, he was told at one point that he didn't need to blow the whistle. Nicola Arrowsmith-Olds then taught him which flag to signal and the prince practiced side-stepping along the touchline.
He then joined a mini game to referee students participating in the course.
During his visit, the prince met Raj Randhawa, the FA's Equality, Diversity and Inclusion delivery manager, and Levi Gray, a lieutenant in the British Army and a professional referee.
Lt Gray, serves with the Royal Irish regiment and was part of the officiating team for the 2024 Women's FA Cup at Wembley Stadium.
She said: 'We spoke about improving diversity in football and how at the grassroots it can be quite a vulnerable place for people because you don't have the protection that you have in the professional game so it's how communities like this [in Walsall] are helping people.'
Randhawa said: 'For him to come and visit and take time out of his day and meet some of the participants staring their referee journey, it will live long in the memories for them but personally for me as well.'
