During his first day in Estonia, Prince William was presented with a special gift that is sure to delight his daughter, Princess Charlotte—a friendship bracelet. While visiting The Freedom School, he playfully remarked that Charlotte would “probably poach it off me.”
The Prince of Wales was warmly welcomed by students at the school, which was established by Estonia’s Ministry of Education and Research in 2022 to support children of Ukrainian refugees. During his visit, he engaged with students and even tried his hand at basketball.
Expressing his appreciation for the gift, William noted: “She loves these friendship bracelets. Thank you very much, I like the Ukrainian colours. That’s very kind.”
Earlier in the day, William met with Estonia’s President, Alar Karis, marking the start of his first official visit to the country. His trip coincides with the handover of Operation Cabrit—the UK’s NATO mission to reinforce security on the alliance’s eastern flank—from the Royal Dragoon Guards to the Mercian Regiment, of which William is Colonel-in-Chief.
Before heading to military engagements, he spent time in Tallinn, where he was greeted at the Presidential Palace by a group of kindergarten children. His visit comes at a time of heightened security concerns in Estonia due to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
Presents to Take Home
Signing the Guest Book
Global Statesman
Friendship Bracelet
Shooting Some Hoops
Both Prince William and Princess Kate have been vocal in their support for Ukraine since the war began.
During his trip, William is learning how Estonia has contributed by welcoming over 60,000 refugees—an effort proportionally equivalent to the UK taking in around three million people.
The Prince also met with leaders of Estonian companies working in renewable energy, just weeks after Estonia, along with Latvia and Lithuania, transitioned their energy supply from a Russian-controlled network to a European one.
On Friday, William will travel to Tapa Camp, located 100 miles from the Russian border, to gain hands-on experience of military training exercises. He will witness the 1st Battalion Mercian Regiment begin their six-month deployment and participate in an official handover ceremony. Additionally, he will speak with Estonian and UK soldiers about their experiences serving far from home.
