Prince William Teases 102-Year-Old Patient About Her Age — And Quickly Regrets It [Video]
William appeared genuinely delighted during the encounter, which quickly became one of the standout moments of his most recent royal visit.
Prince William shared a sweet exchange with the Isles of Sicily’s oldest resident during his visit to their newly redeveloped hospital. He charmed the 102-year-old Hilda Richards with jokes and compliments, who was admitted there recovering from a recent fall. The Prince of Wales was touring community projects and recovery efforts across the islands and appeared genuinely delighted during the encounter, which quickly became one of the standout moments of his most recent royal visit.
William got to meet Mrs. Richards after arriving at the Isles of Scilly Hospital on St. Mary’s, where she had spent the night following a fall at home. According to reports from the visit, the prince warmly asked her, “How you feeling this morning?” to which she replied, "Fine, thank you.” Nurses then informed William that Mrs. Richards was the oldest resident on the Isles of Scilly. That’s what prompted him to jokingly respond with, “I never ask a lady how old she is…” The centenarian quickly answered, “I’m 102,” leaving the prince visibly stunned. “You’re not? Hilda, my goodness, that’s amazing. You don’t look anywhere near 102,” William told her with utmost astonishment and warmth. Watch the video here!
The hospital visit was a part of William’s broader trip across the Isles of Scilly. During the engagement, he also met construction workers involved in building the new healthcare facility, a redevelopment project that is being supported by the Duchy of Cornwall. It combines NHS services with social care provisions and aims to improve support for elderly residents across the islands. While there, William also spent time speaking with residents at the neighboring care home, as he listened to concerns about healthcare, housing, and island life.
Beyond healthcare, the prince’s visit focused heavily on recovery and sustainability efforts following the devastation caused by Storm Goretti. The natural hazard battered the islands with winds nearing 100mph earlier this year. The aftermath resulted in the destruction of 500 trees, including vital shelterbelt trees, which protected local communities from harsh weather conditions. As he toured the damaged landscape, William reportedly remarked, “Like something out of a horror film, this.” He later planted a replacement Monterey pine and also visited a Duchy housing development featuring 10 new sustainable homes equipped with solar panels and electric vehicle charging points.
After the trip, William addressed the Duchy’s evolving mission and made a social media post saying, “We are evolving what it means to be a landowner, moving from passive stewardship towards a more active contribution, with social and environmental purpose at its heart.”
