HOUSEY-HOUSEY OF WINDSOR
Care home’s bingo game graced with some VIP guest callers
But the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s latest role was only temporary.
William and Kate acted as bingo callers as they joined residents of a care home in Cardiff by video link for a game. The royals giggled at their Norfolk home while taking turns holding numbered balls to the screen – calling out some of the numbers in ‘bingo lingo’.
William told players Margaret Stocks, Ray Donoghue, Margaret Jones and Joan Drew-Smith: ‘Catherine is going to pick out the first ball.’ As Kate held it up to the screen for the residents to see, she announced: ‘So, the first number is five and eight, 58.’ William then chose a ball and held it up, calling out: ‘One little duck, number two.’
Kate called out the next two balls: ‘Eight and seven, 87. Six and two, tickety-boo.’ She and William displayed other numbers, including the 19 ball, until they heard Joan call out: ‘I won!’
The couple clapped, and William congratulated her. ‘Hi, Joan,’ said Kate. ‘Well done!’
‘How did we do at bingo? We did OK?’ asked William. ‘Very good,’ said the winner, before adding cheekily, ‘Wasn’t as good as it should have been!’ prompting more giggles from William and Kate.
‘We’ll try and do a bit better at bingo next time,’ said the prince.
Before the game, he and Kate spoke to staff at the Shire Hall Care Home, including general manager Karen Grapes, who told them: ‘It has been quite a hard couple of months, I must be honest.’
Harriet Boobyer, the senior care assistant and dementia co-ordinator, described how she is helping residents to stay in touch with their loved ones. ‘A lot of our residents are living with dementia,’ she said. ‘It’s hard for them to understand 100 per cent what’s going on outside. So we’re working on just making sure that we still have that connection with them.’ William’s fears for pupils – Pages 8-9