Prince of Ales! William enjoys pub lunch before his team leave £75 tip,
The Prince of Wales surprised staff when he stopped by for a traditional pub lunch and even left a £75 tip at an inn in Wiltshire.
Prince William was visiting the town of Mere for official Duchy of Cornwall business when he and several associates called in to The Walnut Tree Inn.
He left staff stunned on Thursday after they realised that a booking for nine people made a week in advance was in fact for royalty.
His three security guards sat at one table while William and five others had a working lunch at a separate table.
After he had consumed a homemade burger and fries costing £18.95, bar staff asked the heir to the throne for a quick photo.
The future monarch happily obliged and posed with staff member Lisa James and regulars, Nick Lowe and Gary Fermor.
He was wearing a smart grey jumper, blue jeans and a pair of green wellies, having just visited a nearby Duchy estate.
The royal group were at the pub for 90 minutes.
According to staff, William’s security team paid the tab as well as the generous £75 tip.
William Friend-James, the owner of the Walnut Tree Inn, said: ‘We took a booking about a week ago for nine people on two separate tables but didn’t know who it was.
‘So everyone was a bit shocked when the Prince of Wales walked in.
‘I didn’t recognise who he was with but they were from the Duchy and there were six of them at one table having a meeting over lunch.
‘Wiliam had our homemade burger and fries and a lemonade. Others in his party had the homemade pie and someone had the sea bass.
‘Somebody asked for a photo and his security guards said no but then he walked to the loos by himself and Lisa asked him if he minded having a photo and he said yes.
‘It was a great pleasure to host him.’
The Walnut Tree Inn was first built around 1840 and stood until 1938. It has since been redeveloped twice, most recently in 2005.
