Wills’ laughter as boy, 5, asks: ‘Are you a real prince?’
THE DUKE of Cambridge burst into laughter after surprising a little boy on a video call, who reacted by asking: “Are you a real prince?”
Kaydyn McVeigh, five, has been shielding from Covid-19 at home since March due to his genetic lung condition cystic fibrosis (CF).
But he has struggled with not going to the park to play for months and even once tried to open the front door himself to enjoy the hot weather.
So to cheer Kaydyn up, and see how shielding families are coping, Prince William surprised him and mum Leanne, 42, with a Zoom call.
And the Royal father-of-three giggled when amazed Kaydyn, of Corby, Northants, asked him: “Are you a real prince?”
Yesterday, single mum Leanne told us how Prince William was “brilliant” during their 30-minute informal natter last month.
Kaydyn also exclusively told the Daily Express: “It’s so nice the future king spoke to me. It must be because I’m a CF warrior!”
Leanne, a full time carer for her son, explained: “Prince William was so lovely and down to earth – it was a magical moment.
“He’s very interested in raising awareness about people still shielding and was worried about how we are coping under the strain.
“Kaydyn had a rainbow t-shirt on, to thank the NHS, which Prince William spotted straight away and said was brilliant and colourful.
“But Kaydyn was caught unawares when the chat started. He was munching on a banana and he had to quickly throw it away to get rid of it.
“Later he dashed off to show the Prince his Paw Patrol toys and he recognised them as he said his son George also loved the kids’ show. Then Kaydyn asked him if he was a ‘real prince’ and that made him laugh and tell him ‘yes I am Kaydyn!’
“But Prince William was really moved when I told him how Kaydyn was so desperate to go out he had tried to unlock the front door.
“It is such a difficult situation for vulnerable people shielding as life just has not returned to normal for us – and may not for a long time.”
The emotional 30-minute chat was sparked by a thank-you video Kaydyn sent Community Secretary Robert Jenrick last March.
As shielding for the vulnerable began, the Government despatched weekly food parcels to those unable to access food deliveries.
Kaydyn’s gratitude for their free food delivery was written about by Mr Jenrick on Twitter, and mentioned by Health Secretary Matt Hancock.
Even Prime Minister Boris Johnson responded on social media, tweeting: “Thank you Kaydyn for staying at home.
“Glad the food box arrived. We’re doing everything we can to protect people like you.”
The long chat ended with Prince William telling Leanne and her son that both he and wife Kate Middleton will be thinking of them this summer.