PRINCE William and his aunt Sophie teamed up yesterday in a rare royal double act.
They toasted each other with gin during a joint engagement at the Royal Cornwall Show — and she proved to be a tonic by helping out with the heir to the throne’s duties.
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The Duke of Cornwall and Duchess of Edinburgh were met with cheering crowds yesterday.
When he was offered a Rattler cider, Wills, 42, quipped: “Everyone remembers their first Rattler. You don’t remember your last.”
He pretended to turn his nose up at the zero per cent alcohol option he was initially offered and asked for the proper stuff.
At a gin stand, Wills joked he could “see what today’s going to be like” and also teased Sophie.
They had been taken into a food and drinks tent, where Sophie was also seen happily chatting to a mother and baby about local produce.
They went first to a chutney stand and then to the gin stall as William said: “We’ve come from the chutneys straight into booze.”
They were shown several gins before each were given one to try.
He caught the Duchess going for another sip and joked to her: “She said, ‘You’re not allowed to finish it’. You’ve got to watch her.”
Sophie, 60, responded: “He’s learnt from the best.”
Wills joked back: “I’ve been caught out with whisky a few too many times.
“I think I can do that and then, ‘Oh no I couldn’t’.”
The pair were also given a traditional Cornish pasty by Ann’s Pasties.
They then moved to the Healeys Cyder Farm stand, where William said: “Look at the Rattler selection. Ah, definitely I’m happy about that.”
Head of hospitality Laura Clerehugh, 36, said: “I was going to say, you’ve had a Rattler.”
William responded: “Everyone remembers where they were when they had their first Rattler, I can tell you that.”
He then laughingly agreed that you don’t remember your last.
Wills then asked about the “zero” on the bottle, and when told that it meant zero alcohol he put the cup down and said: “Oh no, no, no. I need original. Someone bring out the big guns.”
Sources said the day was a huge success. Sophie has been touted as the Royal Family’s “secret weapon” thanks to her unwavering support for the monarchy and dedication to charities.
She was ranked the fourth hardest working royal of last year, having carried out 257 engagements.
Her welcome contribution comes at a difficult time for the Royal Family.
They were rocked last year when the King and the Princess of Wales were diagnosed with cancer.
Charles continues to receive treatment, while Kate announced earlier this year that she was in remission.
The King had a blast yesterday as he fired an artillery piece on a visit to the Royal Regiment of Artillery at Larkhill, Wiltshire.
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