LONDON:

Britain’s Prince William surprised locals when he was spotted at a bingo hall near Sandhurst, the elite military academy where he is currently training, a report said on October 4.

The 24-year-old, second in line to the British throne, registered under the name ‘William Harry’ at the Mecca bingo hall last Friday and played for nearly an hour — but failed to win any prizes, The Sun newspaper said.

“Initially he told someone he was a look-a-like, but his mates all started laughing so he had to own up,” one local told the mass-market newspaper. “He was very friendly, talking and joking with people. When someone asked him to sign the back of their bingo card he borrowed a pen from the girl behind the bar and signed a couple of cards,” he added.

The outing was apparently suggested by his colleagues at Sandhurst as a joke, but William — who as king will one day be head of Britain’s armed forces — agreed to go, and followed up the bingo by drinking at three bars in town. — AFP