25 April 2024 , 15:42
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Jack Whitehall has issued a cheeky five-word response after Prince William poked fun at him after being asked to tell a dad joke on a surprise visit to a school today.
The Prince of Wales travelled to the West Midlands to take part in a series of engagements, visiting projects that are all about supporting people's mental health. In one of his stop offs, he visited St Michael's School in Rowley Regis, where he learned about student-led initiatives that are available to pupils to support their mental wellbeing. There he teamed up with several youngsters to record a segment for the school's radio station and the prince was asked to share a "dad joke".
William speaks with children at St Michael's Church (POOL/AFP via Getty Images)And in a cheeky swipe at Jack, he said: "I've been asked to produce a dad joke so I will channel Jack Whitehall as most of his jokes are a bit dad like." He added: I think what I'll do is tell Charlotte's favourite joke - but you have to interact with me."
He added: "Knock, knock", to which the kids said: "Who's there?" He said: "Interrupting Cow." And before the children had a chance to reply: "Interupting cow, who" he said: "Mooooo." As the children giggled, William nodded knowing it was a cheesy line - and said: "I get that a lot at home. It's the greatest one I can think of that's clean and broadcastable!"
And William's quip obviously got back to Jack, who shared a video of William talking about him on X, formerly Twitter, and wrote: "Rinsed by the future King" followed by a heart emoji. William's visit to the school comes after back in October to mark World Mental Health Day, pupil Freddie Hadley sent a personal letter to William inviting him to the school after informing him about the Matrix Project.
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In the letter, Freddie explained that it saw a group of 11 to 14-year-old boys meet every week to develop ideas and projects to shine a spotlight on male mental health.
William shook hands with pupils as he left the school (Andrew Parsons / Kensington Palace)He then invited William to the school for the launch of a campaign last October, saying he would love for the prince to be there as a VIP. Unfortunately, William and wife Kate were unable to make it at the time due to a prior engagement, but today, William dropped by to see the pupils. On arrival, William congratulated Freddie for his work and sending him a letter and told him: "Well done you, I'm here now. Your letter worked. I'm sorry I couldn't come to you in October."
The school runs a number of wellbeing initiatives and William joined a group of pupils, including Freddie, who were from the all-male Matrix Project which runs the Am I Manly Enough? campaign, tackling the stigma around male mental health. The schoolboys quizzed the prince, who was gifted a brink pink Am I Manly Enough? reusable cup, about his interest in the issue, and he told them he found mental health was the "bigger piece", when you put together the 'jigsaw' of issues like homelessness and depression.
After chatting to people in the sector he realised many people were 'terrified' to talk about the issue: "I was suddenly like 'this is unacceptable, we've got to be able to talk about this'. And what is quite interesting, when we first started talking about mental health not one celebrity wanted to join us and talk about it – not one."
Prince William with comedian Jack Whitehall (Matt Frost/ITV/REX/Shutterstock)William later joined other pupils engaged in well-being activities like table discussions, and during his visit he found his support of Aston Villa football club, in an area close to local rivals Wolverhampton Wanderers and Birmingham City, raised a few eyebrows. As he left the school he was given a rapturous send-off by dozens of children in an atrium area and outside he went on a walkabout shaking hands of pupils as he made his way to his car.
Today's engagements in the West Midlands mark the second public outings for William since wife Kate revealed her cancer diagnosis and treatment before Easter. Last week, he returned to duties and gave a helping hand loading food and cooking in the kitchen at food distribution charity Surplus to Supper, in Sunbury-on-Thames, Surrey.