Prince William spent March 5 in Cornwall celebrating St. Piran’s Day, the county’s national day, where he briefly set aside the title most people associate him with. While he is widely known as the Prince of Wales, during visits to the region he uses another title he inherited in 2022 when his father became king.

In Cornwall, William is known as the Duke of Cornwall, the traditional title held by the heir to the British throne. As head of the Duchy of Cornwall, he oversees an estate that generates roughly £23 million a year, funding both his private and charitable work and helping support his family.

The visit focused on highlighting the resilience of local communities following severe winter storms, making the St. Piran’s Day celebrations an especially meaningful moment for the region.

A royal attempt at making Cornish pasties

One of William’s first stops was an organic farm that supplies ingredients to a well known local bakery. There, he tried his hand at making traditional Cornish pasties, the region’s most famous pastry.

As he watched a bakery employee demonstrate how to fold and pinch the edges of the pastry, William attempted to copy the technique. It quickly became clear that mastering the process was harder than it looked.

“It’s a lot harder than it looks,” he joked as he worked on shaping the pastry. Laughing at his own attempt, he admitted the result was far from perfect.

“This might be coming home with me,” he said before joking that the pasty looked like “a funny little crab.”

During the moment, he also mentioned his wife, Princess Kate, saying she would probably be much better at the task. “This is where I need my wife,” he laughed, adding that Kate would be “all over this.”

A generous gesture behind the bakery counter

Later in the visit, William stepped behind the counter at the bakery’s pasty hut, where another memorable moment unfolded. The prince handed out some of the pastries he had helped make to customers waiting at the shop, insisting they should not pay for them. It appeared he quietly covered the cost himself.

The friendly interaction with locals created several lighthearted moments throughout the day, including one small mix up that quickly went viral.

The hilarious phone call mix up

While helping staff take orders at the Gear Farm Pasty Shop, William answered a phone call from a customer named Josie Trounson.

However, when she gave her name, William mistakenly heard something else.

“I said my name was Josie,” she later recalled. “And as I now know, Prince William said ‘Juicy.’”

She quickly corrected him.

“I said, ‘No, it’s not Juicy, it’s Josie!’”

Josie initially had no idea who she was speaking to. She thought the bakery simply had extra staff working because of the busy St. Piran’s Day celebrations.

It was only after placing her order that shop employees revealed the surprise.

“They said, ‘Would you be surprised to hear it was Prince William that took your order?’” she said. “I couldn’t believe it. I was absolutely flabbergasted.”

When William realised the mistake, he laughed and replied, “Sorry Josie, I thought you said Juicy… the pasties will be juicy.”

Recognising Cornwall’s resilience after severe storms

Beyond the humorous moments, William’s visit also had a serious purpose. Earlier this year, Cornwall experienced severe storms that caused major disruptions across the region.

Around 50,000 homes lost electricity, while approximately 15,000 households were left without water supplies. Winds during the storm reached speeds of up to 123 miles per hour, making it one of the most severe weather events the area has faced in recent years.

During his visit, William learned how the bakery managed to continue operating despite power cuts thanks to a newly installed generator. The family run business continued baking and providing food to residents even during the worst conditions.

Thanking emergency workers on the front lines

William also visited the fire station in Helston to meet with firefighters and emergency workers who responded during the storms.

He took part in a round table discussion with the crews to hear firsthand how they supported residents during the difficult conditions, from clearing fallen trees to helping communities deal with damage and flooding.

William’s growing role as Duke of Cornwall

Although the public most often hears William referred to as the Prince of Wales, his role as Duke of Cornwall carries significant responsibilities.

The duchy’s secretary, Will Bax, previously described William as highly engaged and ambitious in the role. Speaking to The Telegraph, Bax said the prince approaches the position with strong conviction and a genuine desire to make a positive difference.

“He’s easy to follow because he’s got great conviction and personality,” Bax said, noting that William wears his “heart on his sleeve” when it comes to social issues and supporting communities.

For the people of Cornwall, the visit served as both a celebration of their heritage and a reminder that their duke remains closely connected to the region.