Prince William recently made a significant visit to Tapa Camp in Estonia, showcasing his commitment to supporting military forces as Colonel-in-Chief of the Mercian Regiment. During his visit, he interacted with soldiers by doing everything from going through trench warfare training to taking a ride in a Challenger tank. His presence was to honour the commencement of a Mercian Regiment six-month deployment in Estonia.
The trip began with Prince William wearing fatigues and a beret, a nod to his status as Colonel-in-Chief. During his visit, he was able to engage with soldiers from the Mercian Regiment and 1st Estonian Brigade all throughout the day. Notably, he invited Company Sergeant Major WO2 Daniel Hutton to a "Blues vs Villa" match, a gesture that highlighted his personal connection to the troops.
"It's morale boosting. I think they [the troops] enjoyed him coming out here, bearing in mind his connection to the regiment." – Wo2 Hutton
While at Tapa Camp, Prince William took part in a trench warfare training exercise. From day one, he championed the troops through their challenging and demanding training schedule. He even rode in a Challenger tank, deepening his military experience. Each step of the way, he stopped and paused to ask troops about their training and deployment experiences turning visions of isolated operations into real-life realities.
Prince William was very hands on and personally worked with the soldiers while they were having their conversations. He was very curious about the camp’s amenities, especially its special sauna. This deep engagement with nature must have sparked his imagination—that’s what it looked like to us anyway!
"Tea bags are always a big issue." – Prince William
He even inquired as to how the soldiers manage to keep their home larders filled. Next, he interviewed senior finance manager Jawad Qamar on supply chain and logistics management. Secondly, he visited the NAAFI shop and canteen. There, he proved to be a good sport and an ultra-competitive one at that with his friendly game of table football.
Prince William couldn’t have known it then, but he was exploring the idea of “stigmamental fitness” in action. He wondered if it was better than standard mental health treatment for soldiers. His investigation into this sphere highlighted his dedication to ensuring the health and safety of the soldiers.
One of the best moments of the day was watching Prince William engage with groups of soldiers placed next to each car. He worked with them on how to read the landscape, how to Recon the prior op. His expertise helped connect the dots between what was happening in today’s exercise and real-world scenarios.
"It's quite a useful exercise in itself, just viewing what's gone on in Ukraine, seeing all the kinds of terrain they're operating in and understanding the pros and cons of what's gone on before." – Prince William
The visit culminated in an official handover ceremony led by Prince William. On the day of this event, British troops stationed in Tapa Camp were changing from the Royal Dragoon Guards to the Mercian Regiment. His presence underscored the significance of this deployment for British and Estonian defense postures.
"The President was saying to me yesterday how important it is that you guys are here. It goes right to the top of Estonian society." – Prince William
