Prince William meets British troops on Nato's front line
The Prince of Wales has donned army fatigues to join British troops on a field exercise in Estonia, on the front line of Nato's defence against Russia.
Prince William will join the soldiers in trench warfare at Tapa Camp, just 80 miles from the Russian border and home to the UK's largest military deployment overseas.
On arrival at the base, he met Estonian troops before taking part in a handover ceremony between the Royal Dragoon Guards and the Mercian Regiment, of which he is Colonel-in-Chief.
He was then due to ride in a Challenger 2 battle tank and a Warrior infantry fighting vehicle as he joined the Mercians in a trench cleaning exercise.
The visit comes amid heightened tensions with Russia. Sir Keir Starmer is considering proposals to send British fighter jets to police the skies above the country, while Emmanuel Macron is exploring alternatives to his plan with Sir Keir to put European boots on the ground to protect a future peace deal in Ukraine.
Kensington Palace sources noted that the Prince's visit to Estonia, while six months in the planning, could not have been more timely.
On Thursday, Estonian president Alar Karis told the heir to the throne how much his country valued Britain's military presence and said he hoped they would remain.
Some 900 personnel are deployed in Estonia on rolling six-month rotations under Operation Cabrit, the UK's contribution to Nato's Forward Land Forces.
A palace source said it was 'really important' to the Prince to 'get his hands dirty' by being out on training exercises and experiencing exactly what the soldiers do in the field.
He was due to drive himself off the field in an Archer, a fully automatic truck carrying a 155mm field gun.
The Prince will also learn about their various weapon systems as well as the mental health support available to soldiers on the base.
The Prince will end his 24-hour visit by joining Mercian troops and their Nato allies in the informal space of the Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes' shop and canteen.
An excellent first day in Estonia, experiencing the warmth and hospitality of this beautiful country 🇪🇪 pic.twitter.com/bLJ4D7WMxh
— The Prince and Princess of Wales (@KensingtonRoyal) March 20, 2025
The brief trip was considered a crucial and timely opportunity to reassure Estonians of the UK's commitment to their own security and applaud their own strong support for Ukraine.
On Thursday, the Prince praised the 'resilience' and 'spirit' of Ukrainians as he met refugees who have fled their wartorn country to seek refuge in Estonia.
'It's been a very difficult few years for you guys,' he said.
'Everyone sees that. What I love is (that) the Ukrainian resilience is everywhere. You all are very smiley and very strong and very spiritual people. And honestly, that comes across everywhere. Even the Ukrainians I've met in the UK are like that - very resilient and very strong about things.
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