Prince William has made a private donation of £1,000 to help save a village pub, hailing such bars as a “lifeline” in a letter to a campaign group. The Prince of Wales wrote to the Semington Community Benefit Society, which is trying to buy the Somerset Arms in Semington, Wiltshire, after it closed three years ago. “Our pubs have long held a unique place at the heart of British life,” he said. “In rural areas, they can be a lifeline, helping to combat isolation and sustain local identity.” The group are aiming to raise £395,000; they have received almost £195,000 in pledges and £4,000 in individual donations. Vice chairman Andy Cobley said they were “over the moon” and “incredibly excited and stunned”.
The donation comes two weeks after William visited the Prince of Peckham in south east London, where he told regulars: “I love pubs. I want to do as much as I can to support them.” During that visit, he pulled a pint of Red Stripe and ate jerk chicken, saying of the dish: “It blew my mind. I’m hoping Deliveroo can deliver this to Windsor.” Owner Clem Ogbonnaya praised the prince for putting “something like Chatty Patty on the map”.
“Prince William donates £1,000 to save a village pub and jokes with an Aston Villa fan at Royal Ascot.”
Days later, William was at Royal Ascot alongside his wife, Princess Kate, in a horse-drawn carriage. When a member of the crowd shouted “Up the Villa” – a reference to his beloved Aston Villa – he replied: “I hear people saying that now.” He pointed to the person, asked if they were a Villa fan, then clenched his fist and smiled, ending with “good season”. Villa won the Europa League in May and finished fourth in the Premier League, securing Champions League football. Defender Matty Cash said after the cup win: “He was in there having a beer with us. He’s just delighted. He’s such a big supporter.”
Kate wore a bright yellow dress with a matching hat, drawing praise on social media. Beverley Cosgrove wrote: “Catherine looks stunning, as always.” Stacey Illingworth said: “This is what I like about William, he’s so approachable.” William started supporting Villa during his school years at Eton to avoid popular clubs. After the Europa League victory, he wrote on Instagram: “Amazing night! Huge congratulations to all the players, team, staff and everyone connected to the club! 44 years since the last taste of European silverware!”