Prince William jokes about perils of dinner time with three children

‘If you put something on the table they don’t want, that’s another ball game’, says royal

The Duke of Cambridge has given an insight into royal mealtimes during a video call to a Scottish charity.

Speaking to representatives of the PEEK Project (Possibilities for Each and Every Kid), a charity in Glasgow that provides hot and healthy meals for vulnerable families during the coronavirus pandemic, Prince William said the success of his family meals depend very much on “what’s on the table”.

The duke had expected to visit people from the charity in person this week at the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland.

However, the coronavirus lockdown meant the event had to be cancelled, forcing all royal engagements to take place digitally instead.

On Wednesday, Prince William video called the PEEK Project in Glasgow about its work, which has been helped by the National Emergencies Trust (NET) Coronavirus Appeal.

The royal was given a tour of the charity’s food truck – named Peekachew by the children it helps – and also hailed the “incredible” efforts of community chef Charlie Farrally and the record 900 meals that are made in one day in the van and kitchens loaned by local businesses.

The duke also heard how the charity is “taking the pressure off parents” who are already dealing with the effects of the coronavirus lockdown.

During the call, Mr Farrally said: “You’ll know yourself, the hardest time is dinner time.”

Prince William, who has three children, George, Charlotte and Louis, laughed and replied: “It depends what’s on the table.

“If parents put something on that children love, dinner time goes very well.”

Prince William spoke with Michaela Collins and Charlie Farrally from the PEEK Project (PA)

He continued: “But if you put something on the table they don’t want to do, that’s another ball game.”

The duke also spoke to Michaela Collins, who started visiting PEEK when she was aged nine before becoming a volunteer and then chief executive.

“What a brilliant rise,” William said. “I think that’s absolutely fantastic. You are the embodiment of what can be done.

“I hope when I find myself up in Glasgow in the near future I can come and see you guys in person and congratulate you.”

Prince William also took part in a second video call with Finding Your Feet, a charity that provides support to families affected by amputation or limb absence.

The duke spoke to founder Corinne Hutton, who was given a five per cent chance of surviving sepsis in 2013 and had her hand amputated and legs amputated below the knee.

After setting up the charity to help others she became the first quadruple amputee to climb Ben Nevis, the first female quadruple amputee to climb Mount Kilimanjaro and the first Scot to receive a double hand transplant.

“You’re a huge inspiration. I’m so pleased the NET have found you and you’ve found them and that relationship is helping,” Prince William said.

16 pictures of the royal family when they were children

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16 pictures of the royal family when they were children

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• 1/16 Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex 

  A two-year-old Prince Harry holds the hand of his mother, Princess Diana, at Aberdeen Airport. (1986)

  Photo by Carraro/REX

• 2/16 Prince William, Duke of Cambridge 

  Aged two years old, Prince William is photographed outside the Lindo Wing at St Mary’s Hospital, London, following the birth of his younger brother Prince Harry. (1984)

  Photo by Mauro Carraro/REX

• 3/16 Prince George 

  Prince George arrives for his first day of school at Thomas’s London Day School in Battersea. (2017)

  AFP/Getty Images

• 4/16 Princess Charlotte 

  Princess Charlotte waves on the steps of St George’s Chapel, Windsor, as she arrives at the wedding of Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank. (2018)

  Photo by Steve Parsons – WPA Pool/Getty Images

• 5/16 Prince Louis 

  A newborn Prince Louis is pictured outside the Lindo Wing at St Mary’s Hospital, London. (23 April 2018)

  Photo by Chris Jackson/Getty Images

• 6/16 Queen Elizabeth II 

  A portrait of Queen Elizabeth II, then Princess Elizabeth, aged three or four years old. (circa 1929-1930)

  Photo by Universal History Archive/REX

• 7/16 Princess Margaret and Queen Elizabeth II 

  Princess Margaret is pictured alongside her elder sister Princess Elizabeth, later Queen Elizabeth II. Princess Elizabeth carries a purse embroidered with the letter “E” and a crown. (circa 1933)

  Photo by Richard Gardner/REX

• 8/16 Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh 

  Prince Philip is pictured in Corfu, Greece, at the age of 14 months. (1922)

  Photo by REX

• 9/16 Prince Charles, Prince of Wales 

  Prince Charles waves after his parents Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh as they drive a procession of welcome following their return from Canada (1951)

  AFP/Getty Images

• 10/16 Prince Andrew, Duke of York 

  A six-year-old Prince Andrew looks out from a window at Buckingham Palace. (1966)

  Photo by McCabe/Express/Hulton Archive/Getty Images

• 11/16 Princess Anne, Princess Royal 

  An official portrait is taken of Princess Anne, a day before her fourth birthday. (1954)

  STF/AFP/Getty Images

• 12/16 Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex 

  A four-year-old Prince Edward turns in his seat as he attends the annual Royal Windsor Horse Show. (1968)

  Photo by P. Felix/Daily Express/Getty Images

• 13/16 Princess Beatrice 

  A two-year-old Princess Beatrice sits underneath a presentation table at the Royal Berkshire Polo Club, holding a fluffy toy. (1991)

  Bill Cross/Daily Mail/REX

• 14/16 Princess Eugenie 

  A young Princess Eugenie holds her mother, the Duchess of York’s hand as she leaves Upton House School Windsor on her elder sister’s first day of school. (1991)

  Photo by Mike Forster/ANL/REX

• 15/16 Camilla Parker Bowles, Duchess of Cornwall 

  A four-year-old Camilla Parker Bowles, later the Duchess of Cornwall, is pictured with her two-year-old sister Annabel. (1952)

  Photo by Ann Cleaver/REX

• 16/16 Zara Phillips 

  Zara Phillips, daughter of Princess Anne, attends the Royal Windsor Horse Show aged two. Zara went on to become an equestrian and Olympian. (1983)

  Photo by Paul Massey/Mail On Sunday/REX

 

 

Stephen McAtamany, one of the charity’s beneficiaries, who had his left leg amputated below the knee in 1988 after a motorbike accident and now sports a leopard-print limb, was also on the call.

The 57-year-old spoke openly about his own struggles with mental health, with William asking: “What was the biggest bit of support for you? One of the things we’re trying to encourage people to do is have that first conversation.

“For you, that first conversation with (counsellor) Michelle, did those dark clouds lift a bit?”

Mr McAtamany replied: ”Being able to reach out initially to make that appointment was a massive step.

“A big burden was lifted right away.”

They also agreed the Paralympics had “completely changed” public attitudes to seeing those who had lost limbs.