Prince William rolled up his sleeves at Gear Farm Pasty Company in Helston on Thursday, serving customers, taking phone orders, and handcrafting pasties in the kitchen.
Personalized Treats for the Family
Staff prepared special pasties for the Prince of Wales’ family, each featuring an initial and a crown. William took them home for his wife, the Princess of Wales, and their children—Prince George, 12, Princess Charlotte, 10, and Prince Louis, 7.
Frances Combellack, a shop worker, shared that William quipped he wasn’t sure the treats would survive the journey. “He took them home to his family, but said he wasn’t sure if they would make it home; he might have to eat them on the way home!” she said.
Combellack added that William planned to show off his creation to his wife. “He was kind of like: ‘Oh, I wish my wife were here to help, she would be a lot better at it.’ He said that his looked like some kind of crab, but we think he did a very good job because it’s not an easy thing to do, especially for your first attempt. So he did very well!”
Surprise Phone Order
William took a phone order from customer Josie, who had no idea she was speaking to the Prince. Combellack recounted the moment Josie came to collect her pasty: “Do you know who took your order today?” Josie replied it was “a gentleman” who called her Josie.
When informed it was Prince William, Josie reacted with surprise. Staff showed her video footage, and she requested a copy. The shop comped her pasty as a gift, leaving her delighted.
Hands-On Fun in the Bakery
William served multiple customers but needed reminders to collect payments, adding to the lighthearted atmosphere. The highlight came during crimping, where he shared laughs with the team.
“There’s always a lot of chit chat going on in the crimping room,” Combellack noted. “We just all had such a lovely day, and we all feel like it’s so lucky that the atmosphere of the farm is such a lovely, warm family atmosphere. We felt like that came across in the visit.”
