Britain’s future monarch, Prince William, surprised locals when he traveled to the Isles of Scilly in a new pilot boat to attend a series of engagements.
The Prince and Princess of Wales shared the details of William’s trip on their official Instagram account as William, known locally as the Duke of Cornwall, arrived at Hughtown harbor on his new pilot boat, the John Guy, named after a long-time Scillonian-born Duchy worker.
Funded by the Duchy of Cornwall, the vessel plays a vital role in keeping the island’s waters safe and supports the daily life of the Scillonian community.
A crowd of excited tourists had gathered to greet the royal on the quayside.
William’s opened a new facility at the Isles of Scilly Hospital where he also met staff and patients and shared a laugh and a cup of tea with care home residents.
He has taken a keen interest in the development of health services on Scilly since taking over the duchy when he became Prince of Wales and is keen to increase medical capacity for the islands.
The upgraded facility combines NHS services with social care under one integrated model, allowing for more efficient use of staff and shared resources.
William also visited the almost complete construction site where the Duchy is delivering 10 new sustainable homes designed to address the islands’ severe housing shortage.
