Prince William wore full military uniform, took a ride in a tank and took part in a trench warfare training exercise while visiting British troops deployed near Russia today. William, Colonel-in-Chief of the Mercian Regiment, presided over an official handover ceremony of British troops deployed at Tapa Camp, from the Royal Dragoon Guards, to his regiment, who are based at Tapa just 80 miles from Russiaâs border.
Williamâs visit to Tapa aims to highlight the role of British troops in Operation Cabrit, which involves around 900 soldiers stationed as part of Natoâs defence of the eastern flank â the UKâs biggest international operational deployment. With the royal standard flying alongside flags of Nato members, the prince was shown a selection of military vehicles including an Archer, a Challenger 2, a Warrior, a French Griffon, an MLRS and a Trojan, on Tapaâs parade square.
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William travelled in a Challenger 2 tank to be briefed about the exercise, before switching to a Warrior infantry fighting vehicle to travel out to the field exercise. The princeâs vehicle was the last of three to arrive at the scene where soldiers from the Mercian battlegroup were undertaking an exercise to spot and break into an enemy trench before capturing âhigh-value targetâ enemy troops.
As the first two Warrior vehicles arrived on the scene after spotting the trench, they opened fire on the enemy base with machine guns. The first soldiers were already firing machine guns from the vehicles into the trench as William arrived, travelling in the commanderâs turret of the third and final warrior vehicle to give him an âeagle-eye viewâ of the exercise as he arrived.
Standing above the trench, William had the scene explained to him by Major McNeil as gunfire sounded and smoke occasionally blocked the view of the troops. William was heard saying that he had been speaking to the âChallenger Two boysâ and asking questions about the weaponry being used in the demonstration.
White smoke grenades were thrown into the trench to obstruct the enemyâs view, while yellow smoke grenades were used to indicate the frontline position of the allied troops. A drone was sent up overhead to give the troops a better view of the battle scene. Following the demonstration, William was given the chance to drive an Archer, a mobile artillery vehicle.
William took over the role as Colonel-in-Chief of the Mercians in 2023, previously held by his father. While visiting Tapa, he will also drive a tank and see the Mercians training with an array of weapons. UK troops lead a battlegroup in Estonia, and the 900 British service personnel in the country are the UKâs largest permanent overseas deployment. Russia is seen as a growing threat in the region following its three-year-long invasion of Ukraine, with the Baltic states â Estonia, Lithuania and Latvia â which border Russian President Vladimir Putinâs nation appearing increasingly concerned.
The Prince of Wales, wearing a military camouflage outfit and beret, was met at the NATO base by UK defence attaché Rob Hall. Soldiers from the 1st Estonian brigade were introduced to the future king who asked them about the first six months of their training. Speaking to the 13 soldiers chosen to meet him, William said: “It’s great to meet you guys and great to be here. How’s it working with the Brits? You don’t have to say nice things just because i’m here!”
The soldiers told him their experience had been “good” and “very successful”. William replied: “I bet you guys are pleased it’s going to be spring soon! It gets quite cold here right?” One soldier said: “Spring started yesterday so we are happier now”. William said: “Yes I got to see some sunshine in Tallinn yesterday, a little bit colder today though. But good to know it’s coming”. The Prince asked the soldiers about their basic training adding: “It’s great to meet and I can’t wait to see the drills today. Very pleased to be here.”
During his time at the military base, the prince will also meet Estonian troops and visit the welfare team to learn about the emotional and mental wellbeing support that is available to UK soldiers
William will end his two-day visit to Estonia by meeting Mercian troops and their Nato allies in the informal space of the Navy, Army and Air Force Institutesâ shop and canteen. The prince is a former army officer who trained at Sandhurst military academy and joined the Household Cavalryâs Blues and Royals before training as an RAF search and rescue helicopter pilot.
His trip to the Russia border comes after he paid tribute to the “resilience” of Ukrainians given refuge by Estonia after holding talks with the Baltic stateâs president on the first of his two-day trip. He also donned a friendship band in their Ukrainian colours on a visit to ‘The Freedom School’ for refugees.
William, 42, was visiting the educational establishment in Tallinn, the capital of Estonia, where he also played basketball with students and learnt to say – admittedly not very confidently – good afternoon in both Estonian and Ukrainian.
Taking a seat with students aged 16 to 18 in a Ukrainian language lesson, he told them encouragingly: “Itâs looking forward to the future in a positive way, itâs very important. Itâs been a very difficult few years for you guys. Everyone sees that. What I love is (that) 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 Iâve met in the UK and like that – very resilient and very strong about things. You have a very good spirit, very good souls, itâs very important. Even if your language is very hard to learn. I need to take some of these big words with me to look at, learn my languages better.”
He was asked by student counsellor Yelyzaveta Lukiianchuk, 18, if she could give him a friendship bracelet made by the pupils in the Ukrainian colours of blue and yellow. He asked her to put it on and said: “Thatâs brilliant, my daughter will try and probably poach it off me later. She loves these friendship bracelets. Thank you very much, I like the Ukrainian colours. Thank you, thatâs very kind.”
Afterwards, he became king of the selfies when he posed for dozens of pictures with well-wishers. Many of the selfies were taken by the future king who seemed to encourage the photos and at one point appeared to drop a phone, but luckily only the ownerâs extra battery pack slipped from his grasp.
Around 200 people braved bitter conditions in the capital Tallinn to see William after he learnt about the work of a range of renewable energy start-up firms, members of the Cleantech Association, and heard how Estonia and other Baltic states are ushering in a new era of energy security..
Earlier in the day, the future King sat down with Estoniaâs President Alar Karis as his two-day visit to the country began and heard his plea for some UK troops to remain in the Baltic state after the statesman suggested they may be redeployed as peacekeepers in Ukraine.
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