Prince William and his wife Kate paid a visit to a London pub on Thursday, and the Prince of Wales stepped behind the bar to order a pint of “Kingmaker” ale two days before the coronation of his father, King Charles III.
The Prince and Princess of Wales visited the Dog and Duck in central London’s Soho entertainment district to meet with representatives from the hospitality industry, which is anticipating a busy weekend due to the coronation on Saturday.
The heir to the throne, William, drank the first-ever pint of Kingmaker, a pale ale brewed to commemorate the coronation.
“You always have the best conversations in pubs because you never know who you’ll meet,” he says.
The 40-year-old prince was given a full cider glass and told he needed to “get back into work mode.”
Meanwhile, Kate stated that excitement for the coronation was “already starting to build,” and that their eldest child, Prince George, was “excited” about the ceremony after participating in rehearsals.
George, the heir apparent, is nine years old. During the service on Saturday, he will be one of eight Pages of Honor, joining a procession through the nave of Westminster Abbey and assisting with the holding of the king’s ornate Coronation Vestments, or ceremonial robes.
Outside the pub, William and Kate chatted with well-wishers and shook hands with members of the crowd.
The Dog and Duck, founded in 1734, is one of Soho’s oldest pubs.
To get there, the couple rode the Elizabeth Line, a new rail line beneath the British capital named after William’s grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II, who died in September last year after a record 70 years on the throne.
They rode three stops, chatting with bus drivers about their plans for the weekend when tens of thousands of people are expected to flood the city. Days before the event, some brave souls camped out on The Mall, directly in front of Buckingham Palace, on the coronation procession route.
When asked about the coronation preparations, Kate said, “Yes, it’ll be a busy time.” We’re almost there. I still have the impression that we are attempting to line up our ducks.”
William will participate in the coronation ceremony at Westminster Abbey, as will his son George. The heir will assist his father in donning the Golden Imperial Mantle, a floor-length cloak made of gold cloth dating back to 1821.
