Prince William Takes on a Different Name to Help Save Local Pub
The Prince has always supported causes close to his heart, but he has never relied solely on his royal status.
Prince William recently backed a campaign to save a village pub, and he chose to do it with a name that caught many people's attention. The Prince has always supported causes close to his heart, but he has never relied solely on his royal status. Recently, William gave a hefty donation to a local pub, and while the staff members were elated, they were also intrigued by the name the future King used.
BBC recently revealed that William donated about $1,323 (£1,000) to a community fundraising effort aimed at reopening the Somerset Arms, a historic pub in Wiltshire that has been closed since 2023. As per The Times, the donation came after the Semington Community Benefit Society contacted William while raising funds to bring the Somerset Arms back to life. The group reportedly suggested that he could pull the first pint if the campaign succeeds, and William, accepting their invitation, made the contribution under the name 'William Wales' — a name he has used for much of his life outside formal royal duties.
For generations, royal children have often used a surname linked to their parents' titles. When King Charles held the title of Prince of Wales, his eldest son was known as William Wales during his school years and military service. The tradition has continued since William became Prince of Wales following his father's accession to the throne. Today, his children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis, also use Wales as their surname when needed.
In a letter to the campaign, he highlighted why pubs remain important to local communities across Britain. Describing pubs as a 'lifeline' for rural communities, William wrote, "I am very keen to support the role that pubs play, not only as businesses, but as community hubs that contribute so much to the fabric of our nation." Continuing to write to the Semington Community Benefit Society, he added, "I look forward to coming down to pull a pint and celebrate your success." The Somerset Arms is the only pub left in the village and is for sale for about $522,729. With the Prince's help, the pub definitely got more time in hand to keep the business afloat.
William's support reflects a wider interest he has shown in the role pubs play in bringing people together. Earlier this month, he visited a community-run pub in London to learn about programs designed to combat loneliness and support local residents. During the visit, he even tried pulling a pint himself. "Not bad," he joked as he stood behind the bar.
