Prince William plays crazy golf after fishing trip

The Prince of Wales enjoyed a round of crazy golf after speaking to fishermen about the impact of warmer seas on his first official visit to Hastings.

Prince William arrived on a funicular railway to greet a crowd of people who had waited in sweltering heat to see him in the East Sussex town.

He tested his putting skills at Hastings Adventure Miniature Golf, where the World Crazy Golf Championships 2026 took place last month.

He played three holes against Murray Thompson, one of the top-ranked crazy-golfers in the UK, and met local players David and Marian Harley, who took up the game in their retirement.

Admiring the course next to the seafront, the Prince said: "If this is on your doorstep you've got to use it."

Watching Thompson sink three consecutive hole-in-ones, he joked "you make it look so easy", as his opponent celebrated.

Prince William also spoke to local fishermen, a netmaker and the curator of a Hastings museum during his visit to the historic port that is reportedly home to the largest beach-launched fishing fleet in Britain.

Boarding a fishing boat named Senlac Jack, he asked: "What's your theory on why there's no fish?"

He was told that warmer seas and bigger boats were among the reasons, while netmaker Steven Gurka added that improved technology and overfishing were also factors.

Gurka said he had watched fishermen return to port on Wednesday without enough fish to sell.

Local people presented gifts to their royal visitor, including a book about the histories of fisherfolk from the area and an illustrated tea towel.

He was also given a silver shell by the Winkle Club, a local charity.

Members of the club are said to carry the shells in their pockets and can be asked by fellow members to "winkle up" to prove their membership by displaying the shells.

William was told his grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II, and Winston Churchill were among the previous honorary members of the Winkle Club.

When Mr Gurka asked if the Prince wanted to try netmaking, he replied: "I will leave you to it, I'd put a hole in it."

He also visited Hastings Commons, an organisation taking derelict buildings into community ownership and transforming them into social spaces.

Earlier in the visit, he told those gathered in the sunshine that he hoped "you have all got suncream on", and encouraged everyone to swim in the sea.

One woman introduced her baby son, saying: "This is Sebastian, he's been waiting for you", but when William crouched down, Sebastian burst into tears.

"I know how you feel," the Prince joked.

Additional reporting by PA.

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