William Skipped His Royal Title To Save A Local Pub Using A Different Name

Prince William has contributed funds toward rescuing a beloved local pub, without invoking his royal status. According to a BBC report from June 17, the 43-year-old Prince of Wales gave roughly £1,000 (about $1,323) to the Semington Community Benefit Society, which is fundraising to bring the Somerset Arms in Wiltshire back to life.

The pub has sat empty since 2023. Organizers approached William directly about the project, and The Times noted the group floated the idea that he might “pull the first pint” if their fundraising goal is met.

William agreed to take part, listing his contribution on the Crowdfunder page under the name “William Wales”, the donation appears dated June 16.

Though the official surname for the late Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip’s descendants is Mountbatten-Windsor, William has gone by “Wales” throughout much of his life when a last name was needed. This follows a long-standing royal custom in which children adopt a surname derived from their parent’s title.

William was known as William Wales during his school years and time in the armed forces, a nod to his father King Charles’s former title as Prince of Wales.

That naming tradition persists today: since Charles passed the Prince of Wales title to William upon becoming king, William’s own children: George, 12, Charlotte, 11, and Louis, 8 who now carry “Wales” as their surname