William’s vow to save pubs from disappearing as he’s praised for breaking period stigma

The Prince of Wales has admitted he “grew up in pubs” as he joined a major campaign to save Britain’s public houses from closure.

The 43-year-old said: “I love pubs. I want to do as much as I can to support pubs because I love the community. We need to protect our pubs.”

Prince William was visiting the Prince of Peckham, in south-east London, during a busy day of engagements focused on the community, culminating in an appearance at The Diana Award, created in his late mother’s legacy.

The prince’s day out was to spotlight how communities are responding to some of today’s biggest challenges − from poverty, social isolation, youth-led social change and the cost of living.

While at the pub, William said the institutions were “the glue and fabric” in a community, adding: “It’s the people – the team – around a pub that make it”.

An estimated one pub per day closed permanently in England and Wales last year, according to The Telegraph UK. Since 2000 some 15,000 pubs in the UK have shut their doors.

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Landlords have complained that their pubs are facing collapse due to rising costs, and an increase in alcohol duty and the minimum wage.

Earlier this year, the British government announced a £300 million (approx. $600m) support package for pubs.

William was praised for his skills at pouring a pint of Red Stripe by the pub’s owner Clem Ogbonnaya, who was recognised in this year’s New Year’s Honours List for his outstanding contribution to the local community.

Under his ownership Ogbonnaya created the pub’s weekly breakfast club, Chatty Patty. The meeting aims to tackle loneliness and offers free tea and community for locals.

Prince William has previously described pubs as being crucial for human contact.

William praised for helping to break period stigma

The prince ended his day with a visit to the SXSW London Festival in Shoreditch to attend The Diana Award where he was praised for helping to break the stigma around menstrual health.

While on stage, William told an activist that he needed to speak to his daughter Princess Charlotte about periods, admitting he would need some help from the Princess of Wales.

The prince was speaking with Vivi Lin, 28, a Taiwanese human rights activist and founder of With Red organisation and The Period Museum.

She asked William whether he had discussed the topic with his 11-year-old daughter.

“I know I will have to one day, but I might need my wife to help me with that,” William answered.

Lin said: “We work with a lot of dads that have daughters, and I think it is just really important to ask him that question. He shared that he knows one day he will need to have that conversation with his daughter, but he will need the help of his wife and everything.”

William said menstrual cycles to be taken into account in women’s competitive sport.

Catherine ‘so saddened’ after deadly helicopter crash

Meanwhile the Princess of Wales has sent a message of condolence on behalf of her and Prince William following a deadly helicopter crash which claimed the lives of three British Royal Navy crew members.

The aircraft was part in a training exercise when it crashed at Sourton Down, in Devon, during heavy rain, strong winds and low visibility on Wednesday.

Catherine, who is Commodore-in-Chief of the Fleet Air Arm, wrote a message on the Kensington Palace social media channel.

“I was so saddened to hear of the tragic loss of three service personnel from the Fleet Air Arm following a helicopter training exercise last night. William and I hold their families and friends in our hearts at this very difficult time. C.”

She and Prince William are expected to contact the families directly while King Charles will also write to those affected.

It is the greatest loss of life of UK troops in a single incident since April 2014 when five British service personnel were killed when their Lynx helicopter crashed in a mountainous area of southern Afghanistan.