The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge may have their talents, but they won't be worrying any professional bingo callers if a review of their performance given by a Welsh care home resident is anything to go by.
On an official visit to Shire Hall Care Home in Cardiff, Kate and William got more than they bargained for when they were introduced to one of the home's most outspoken residents. As the royal pair were shown around the home, they said hello to 87-year-old Joan Drew-Smith, but probably weren't expecting the response that followed, MirrorOnline reports.
Unfazed at meeting the future King, Joan pointed at Kate and asked William: "Is that your assistant?" The couple burst out laughing at the surprise response, but Kate took it in her stride, telling her husband: "Well, I am your assistant. I have been for a long time!"
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That wasn't the last the royal couple would hear from Joan, however, as she left them stitches again later in the day. The visit to the Cardiff care home came in May 2020, three months after they entertained residents at the home as virtual bingo callers during lockdown.
William and Kate had admitted it was their first time playing bingo as they joined residents on a video call from their Norfolk home, Anmer Hall. And their hosting skills did not go down that well with those playing, including Joan, who said at the time that the game "wasn't as good as it should have been".
Three months on, the 87-year-old hadn't forgotten the couple's shabby ball spinning and made her feelings perfectly clear when she met them face-to-face for the first time. Being introduced to Joan, William said: "Hello Joan, do you remember we did the bingo with you? You said we weren’t very good!”
Without skipping a beat, Joan responded: "Yes. You did a bloody sh***y job." While they were initially taken back by the pensioner's blunt assessment, William and Kate soon roared with laughter.
They got a kinder review from fellow resident Margaret Stocks, 95, who won the virtual game. She told them “I did enjoy it, I hadn’t played it before". Kate replied: "Neither had we! That's why we were so bad," while William added: "We enjoyed it just as much as you did. It was a new experience for us.”
Despite being critical of their bingo-calling skills, the royals were charmed with Joan and her outspoken ways. The Duke later told staff: "I love Joan, she's brilliant. If only everyone was as honest as her."
Buckingham Palace recently announced that William and Kate will visit Wales again during the upcoming extended bank holiday jubilee weekend. The couple are among a number senior royals who will tour the UK as the nation marks the Queen’s 70-year reign with a series of events.
The Earl and Countess of Wessex will visit Northern Ireland and the Princess Royal will visit Scotland with all the members of the monarchy attending public events marking the Platinum Jubilee. The Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall are likely to be in the capital attending events over the four-day weekend in June and it is not know which engagements the Duke and Duchess of Sussex will participate in. Harry and Meghan confirmed earlier in May that they were “excited and honoured” to attend the commemorations for the monarch’s milestone in June with their eldest child Archie and his sister Lilibet.
