Latest news with #WendyDaunt
Daily Mail
18-05-2025
- General
- Daily Mail
Prince William reveals key skill he'd like Prince George to learn so he can carry on his late grandmother Princess Diana's legacy
Princess Diana left an indelible mark on the royal family, and the world - and her eldest son, the Prince of Wales, looks to be determined to ensure her legacy lives on. One of her greatest legacies was becoming the first royal to use British Sign Language (BSL) publicly to communicate with the deaf community. Now, Prince William appears keen for his eldest son, Prince George, to learn how to do the same and carry on his grandmother's work. While presenting deaf studies teacher Wendy Daunt with her OBE at an investiture ceremony at Windsor Castle this week, the Prince stopped to have a short chat with her. She revealed later to the BBC that they spoke about Diana's impact on the deaf community and how proud they were of her 'acceptance' of BSL. Wendy also suggested that the Prince have his three children - George, 11, Princess Charlotte, 10, and Prince Louis, seven - learn the language used by around 150,000 people in the UK. '[William's] face said, "I'm not sure", but then he said, "Maybe Prince George would like to",' the voluntary teacher at the Royal School for the Deaf in Derby, said. 'Prince William did say that I could teach Prince George BSL. But I think it would be better for a younger person, a boy of his own age perhaps to teach him football signs. I would like Prince George to be friends with deaf children.' Wendy, who communicated with William through a BSL interpreter, said that she also wanted the Prince to know how 'proud' the deaf community were of his mother. She recalled the moment Diana attended a conference by the British Deaf Association to receive a book. It was here that Diana first used BSL in public, leaving the audience 'amazed and in awe'. Wendy emphasised the importance of a royal embracing the language and paying respect to BSL, as Diana did, adding that her actions would never be forgotten. Wendy also drew gasps from onlookers when she managed to get a hug out of William, breaking royal protocol. The Prince initially extended his hand to shake hers after their conversation but Wendy said that people usually hug in deaf culture - so she asked for one 'without thinking'. William seemingly appeared reluctant at first as it would break royal protocol, but he warmly embraced the teacher in the end. The first time Diana signed in BSL to a public audience was in 1990, when she addressed 800 delegates at a conference for the British Deaf Association of which she was patron. Using her hands, the royal said: 'I am very proud to receive this book, thank you. I offer my congratulations to the British Deaf Association for 100 years of service.' The organisation praised Diana as an 'inspiration to the Deaf community'. Spokesman Bernard Quinn said at the time: 'There were no mistakes, no fluffs and everyone in the audience understood what she said. She made a very important gesture to deaf people.' She had been known to use BSL to communicate with deaf individuals on a personal level as well, using it to introduce herself to a disabled boy in 1987. Because of their mother, both William and Prince Harry have some proficiency in BSL. In 2020, William signed the words 'Congratulations, Alex' to deaf actor Alex Duguid when he received his MBE at an awards ceremony at Buckingham Palace. Duguid, who signed 'Thank you' back to the Prince, has signed Emmerdale and Coronation Street for deaf ITV viewers for decades. Fans hailed the Prince as 'wonderful', with many heaping praise on William on social media. One user on X, formerly Twitter, said: 'Well done, Prince William! Did you all know his Mum Princess Diana learned sign language as patron of the British Deaf Association?' Another said: 'How wonderful of Prince William to take the time to learn sign language. That is how a royal with integrity acts. So incredibly thoughtful.' Another added: 'This made me so emotional. A video of Prince William using sign language, will show this to my niece. I'll never understand why sign language isn't mandatory in school. Thank you.' Meanwhile, Harry has also been seen using sign language to communicate with deaf children during a 2013 royal trip to Lesotho in South Africa. The Princess of Wales also received praise for trying her hand at BSL. In 2023, she used it to speak to a child who was hard of hearing while visiting the National Maritime Museum Cornwall, in Falmouth. Prior to that she also used the skill while visiting a local scout club in east London and signed: 'I promise to do my best, to be kind and helpful, and to love my world.'
BBC News
16-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
'Prince William hugged me after chat about his mum'
A teacher who was honoured for her work in the deaf community has revealed details about the moment she met and hugged the Prince of Daunt, who voluntarily teaches deaf studies at the Royal School for the Deaf in Derby, was appointed OBE at an investiture ceremony at Windsor said that during her meeting with Prince William, which was interpreted through British Sign Language (BSL), she spoke about his mother, Diana, and his three Daunt said: "It was his face that led to my questions. I wanted to try and lift the moment." She continued: "I wanted to tell him how proud the deaf community were of his mother, Princess Diana."She came to the British Deaf Association conference in Blackpool, and there were thousands of deaf people there. "She came on stage to receive a book, and she signed in BSL and the deaf people were so amazed and in awe of this. "A royal person had actually accepted our language. The respect for BSL that she gave, we've kept that all these years and will never forget that. "I think Prince William actually appreciated that."So I said 'why don't your three children learn to sign?', and his face said 'I'm not sure', but then he said 'maybe Prince George would like to'."Prince William did say that I could teach Prince George BSL. But I think it would be better for a younger person, a boy of his own age perhaps to teach him football signs."I would like Prince George to be friends with deaf children." Wendy also received a hug from the prince as their conversation reached its said: "At the end, he held out to shake my hand. I couldn't remember putting my hand forward to shake his, because it's not my culture. "Deaf culture is we always have a hug so I quickly said, without thinking, 'can I have a hug?'. "His eyes were looking from one to the other thinking 'no, we're not allowed' - but he did."The funny part was when we'd finished. They said I have to go back two steps, bow and turn and leave - but I didn't. "I remember hugging, then I realised I'd forgotten to curtsy and I went back to do a curtsy. It was totally overwhelming, but it was very funny."Wendy hopes to use her honour to challenge issues that people in the deaf community face."There are lots more barriers to knock down and I'm looking forward to doing that," she said."I did ask Prince William if he could come and visit our school in Derby, and he said 'it can be arranged'."
BBC News
13-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
Deaf studies teacher hugs Prince of Wales at OBE ceremony
A deaf studies teacher embraced the Prince of Wales as she was appointed OBE at an investiture ceremony at Windsor Daunt was recognised in the New Year Honours for services to the Royal School for the Deaf in Derby and the deaf brief interaction ended with gasps in the room, according to eyewitnesses, when Ms Daunt asked, and received, a hug from the a statement the Royal School for the Deaf said it was "so proud of Wendy and her legacy and influence remains strong". Sharing the news in a Facebook post, the school said Wendy was "so pleased" to receive the award. She was quoted in the post as saying: "I am getting older now yet the warrior and passion is still in me and this award will give me more wind in my sails to carry on influencing people with my work at RSDD and the whole community."
