William and Kate reduced to giggles as care home residents question their bingo lingo
The pair dissolve into laughter after one pensioner tells them their performance "wasn't as good as it should have been".
Friday 22 May 2020 06:31, UK
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge made a virtual visit to a care home on Wednesday to call some bingo, but attracted somewhat mixed reviews on their efforts from elderly residents.
The royal couple were reduced to fits of giggles after asking for feedback on their bingo lingo during the video call with people at the Shire Hall Care Home in Cardiff - only for one pensioner to tell them it "wasn't as good as it should have been".
Dialling in from their home in Norfolk, Kate took control of the bingo machine as they took it in turns to show the numbers to the room.
William said his wife would pick the first ball, with Kate announcing: "So, the first number is five and eight, 58."
The second in line to the throne then chose a ball and said: "one little duck, number two", before Kate reached for the next two, saying: "Eight and seven, 87. Six and two, tickety-boo."
Resident Joan Drew-Smith called out to say she had won, to applause and congratulations from the Cambridges.
Ms Drew-Smith asked the couple how they were, with William saying "We're very well thanks", before asking her: "How did we do at bingo? We did OK?"
"Very good... wasn't as good as it should have been," she replied, prompting giggles from Kate and William and laughter from care home staff.
Ms Drew-Smith's less than fulsome assessment was echoed by the carer of another resident, Margaret Jones, who said: "They haven't done so well in the bingo there".
The duke conceded that the pair had room for improvement, and laughed as he told the group: "We'll say a big thank you and goodbye to everybody. We'll try and do a bit better at bingo next time."
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Before the game, the couple chatted with some of the home's staff, including general manager Karen Grapes, who said that Shire Hall had cared for residents with COVID-19.
She added: "We spoke with the duke and duchess about the care homes, to talk about how we were managing, what the challenges were, how we're managing the residents, keeping their lifestyle and activities going."
The pair have been meeting care workers on video chats to talk about the difficulties they have faced during the coronavirus pandemic, and to thank them for looking after vulnerable people.
During one of the calls, William said: "If there's hopefully some positivity that comes on to this whole horrendous time, it is that there's a light shone on all the wonderful things you all do and on the social care sector, and it allows people to acknowledge, respect and appreciate everything you guys are doing.
"And I think we are going to see a shift."