Prince William's dad joke was funny, says schoolboy

Freddie invited Prince William to visit his school in October

A schoolboy responsible for bringing The Prince of Wales to his school has given his verdict on the future monarch's dad jokes.

Prince William was invited to St Michael’s Church of England High School in Rowley Regis, West Midlands, by 12-year-old Freddie last October.

The youngster had asked the prince to come and find out about the school's Matrix Project, set up to put a spotlight on male mental health.

Their royal visitor drew laughs on Thursday as he told his daughter Princess Charlotte's favourite gag, a knock knock joke involving an interrupting cow.

"I've been asked to produce a dad joke so I'm kind of trying to channel Jack Whitehall, most of his jokes are pretty dad-like," the prince said.

Freddie told BBC Radio WM the prince had settled his nerves, describing the visit on Thursday as "smooth".

Asked if he really found the joke amusing, the schoolboy said: "I did laugh. It was a little bit funny. We did laugh with him."

Prince William was invited to St. Michael’s Church of England High School in Rowley Regis

Teacher Kerry Whitehouse described the royal visit as a special moment for her school's community.

"We're always talking to our young people about aiming big and reaching for the stars, it sounds cheesy," she said.

"This is just proof to show anything is possible. The reaction from the wider school yesterday at being able to see him was just something that we'll never forget."

The prince met representatives of the school's student voice committee

After Freddie asked the prince in October to visit them, the prince responded on X with a message commending the school on its work but apologising for being unable to make it.

On that day, he had visited Birmingham with his wife Catherine, Princess of Wales, who called for more mental health support for the nation.

Prince William met pupils at the school

On this visit, six months later, the prince met representatives of the school's student voice committee to learn about its various initiatives.

The school launched the body, made of up to 100 students who meet at lunchtimes and after school, in 2012.

The pupils develop initiatives ranging from fundraising to mental health and working with elderly members of the community.