The Prince of Wales received a jar of jam as a gift during his tour of South Africa this morning – months after his sister-in-law Meghan began gifting her friends with exactly the same item.
William, 42, gratefully accepted the jar of sour fig jam while meeting fishermen in Kalk Bay Harbour, Cape Town, the morning after his Earthshot Awards ceremony.
Beaming while he took the jam in his hand, William inadvertently made a nod to the Duchess of Sussex’s American Riviera Orchard lifestyle brand, which was first unveiled via jars of strawberry jam Meghan gifted to her glamorous Montecito friends.
However, amid trademark battles as the Duchess, 42, struggles to get the brand off the ground, American Riviera Orchard and its sweet products have gone quiet since the launch in March.
Meanwhile William, who has been flanked by A-listers Winnie Harlow and Heidi Klum during his tour of Cape Town as part of his Earthshot project, gladly accepted his jar of conserve as he appeared to share a joke with the fishermen. However, he was greeted by protests later in the visit from others in the fishing community who felt they had been excluded from the visit.
The Prince of Wales beamed as he accepted a jar of sour fig jam from fishermen and women at the Kalk Bay Harbour in Cape Town this morning
Earlier in the morning, the Prince of Wales admitted he ‘missed this life’ as he took to the seas with a lifeboat crew.
He met volunteers working for the National Seas Rescue Institute (NSRI) to hear about their lifesaving work and asking what inspired them to get involved.
Before donning a life jacket and heading out with the crew, he asked how choppy the water was and joked that he should possibly be wearing more kit so he did not get wet.
He also revealed that he was trying to teach his three children about rip tides and admitted he wished his family was with him on the trip.
Later in the day he joined his A-list Earthshot ally, German model Heidi Klum, for lunch on the harbour
Also present with William during his final day of the South African tour was model Winnie Harlow
Asked by one member of the crew if he had ever done search and rescue work, he replied: ‘I miss this life. Any chance to get back, I’ll take.’
The Prince trained as a search and rescue helicopter pilot at RAF Valley in Anglesey, North Wales before working as a pilot with the East Anglian Air Ambulance from March 2015 until July 2017.
He was greeted on arrival by Mike Vonk, CEO of NSRI, and was given a short tour of the base before chatting with members of the team about mental health support for first responders, an issue about which he feels particularly strongly.
‘Nice windy day today,’ he joked. ‘How are the seas today? It’s quite choppy!’
In the operations room, the Prince was shown the various pieces of equipment and technology that they use to monitor the waters.
He appeared impressed, saying he had never seen such kit before, and joked that he would have to download the app at home so he could track them.
Although the Prince of Wales received a largely warm welcome, some protesters also gathered at the harbour
An anti-royalist protestor took to Kalk Bay Harbour with a sign saying ‘William, you have no sovereignty in our country’
‘We are trying to teach the children to understand currents,’ he said.
‘The problem with rips is that you don’t know where they are going to appear.’
The Prince asked if riptides occurred on every beach in Cape Town. ‘Driving down the road here, if you look out you can see so much silt being taken out,’ he said. ‘It’s good to use those apps to inform your work.’
Captain Andrew Dekock told him: ‘It’s changed our lives;’ to which William replied: ‘I bet it has.’
He asked about the gaps between each lifeboat station and how many miles each crew covered. He also asked if it was predominantly tourists who got into trouble as locals were more informed of the dangers.
Capt Dekock asked him about his efforts to promote access to swimming lessons through his Royal Foundation.
‘Bearing in mind the UK is an island, we should all know how to swim,’ the Prince said. ‘It’s a life skill that might save your life one day.’
The Prince then donned a red waterproof coat and life jacket before the boat slowly made its way out of the base headed for Kalk Bay, where he met the fishermen.
Catch of the day! William held a fish in his hands as he returned back to the harbour and met with the fishing community
The royal also took part in a weighing exercise for the fish
The Prince of Wales was warmly welcomed by many in the fishing community as he shook hands with people at Kalk Bay Harbour
The Prince of Wales watched on intently as he was shown the ropes by one of the workers on the harbour
He watched on as the fish was measured to determine its size
William was given the chance to hold the fresh fish in his hands
He appeared to have a lesson in gutting and cleaning fish after returning to the land following his trip on the high seas
There, he was met by huge adoring crowds waving South African flags, as he took part in an impromptu walkabout.
He was given some beaded key rings to take home for his family.
Kate Wardle, 46, from Kalk Bay revealed she had had them especially made- handing him two in the shape of a W and a C and three in animal shapes for the children.
‘Thank you very much, they’ll love those. Never go home empty handed, that’s important,’ he said.
The Prince told the crowd: ‘I love Cape Town, I’ve had the most amazing week here, I’ve really enjoyed it. I don’t want to go!’
The Prince of Wales was joined for a spot of lunch by his A-list pals Heidi, Winnie, Tobe Nwigwe and Billy Porter
Supermodel Klum tucked into what looked like a delicious lunch on the harbour
William appeared to share a joke as he and his pals tucked into a traditional fish brai lunch on the harbour
The famous gang fell about laughing as they dined together
William beamed during lunch with his A-list friends and Earthshot allies, the day after his awards ceremony
William appeared deep in conversation with American rapper Tobe Nwigwe
He added: ‘My children would love to be here, so would Catherine.’
However, despite receiving a warm reception from the adoring crowds, William’s walkabout inadvertently caused some upset among some in the fishing community who were protesting over the loss of rights for fishermen in the area.
Rifiek Isaac, deputy chair of a small scale fishing organisation, said he was angry that Abalobi had been chosen as they don’t represent the local fishermen.
‘We would have loved to meet the Prince, it’s not about him. We don’t like that company using our Harbour. We fish here.,’ he said.
Duwayne Baulse, 29, who has been a fisherman for 15 years since he left school, shouted angrily from his fish stall kept apart from William by the medal cordon.
The independent fishermen and women said they all were angry because they were not included in the engagement.
William was meeting 2023 Earthshot Finalist, Abalobi, Kalk Bay Harbour.
Duwayne said afterwards: ‘They aren’t based here and they don’t buy our fish.
‘People only come here when it is sunny. We are here in the rain and storms.
‘They have excluded us. William has not come to look at our fish.
‘No one told us the Prince was coming.
‘Afalobi don’t support us. This is our harbour.
‘We are not angry with him (William). We want people to come here more often. Not this set up.
‘It’s like a stage they put on in North Korea.’
There was also a lone protestor holding a sign saying: ‘William you have no sovereignty in our country.’
Nicholette De Mink said: ‘He needs to leave. He has no jurisdiction here. We have ordered him to leave. He is not acknowledging us but we will shout it anyway.’
