Prince William Surprises Canadian Friends on Their 60th Birthday Trip
In an unexpected turn of events, Prince William delighted a group of lucky Canadian friends who were celebrating their 60th birthdays in New York City. The Prince of Wales, known for his charm and affability, surprised the friends during a walkabout after his engagement at Ten House Fire Department.
During the encounter, Prince William shook hands with the six friends from Nova Scotia, Canada and engaged in a brief conversation. Barb Patterson, one of the friends, shared her experience exclusively with PEOPLE, stating, He shook my hand, and I said, ‘I’m from Nova Scotia, Canada,’ and he said, ‘Nice!’ And I told him my birthday’s tomorrow. He goes, ‘I won’t ask how old,’ and I whispered 60. Then he went, ‘We’ll go with 50.’ He said, ‘I hope you have a fantastic birthday!’ He was lovely. He was so nice.
This unexpected encounter left the friends overjoyed and feeling incredibly lucky. Patterson expressed their gratitude, saying, We were so lucky. We were some of the last people to meet him.
The friends stumbled upon the Prince while they were at the Westfield World Trade Center, witnessing heightened security. Curious about the reason behind it, they approached a police officer who revealed that it was for Prince William. Despite one friend’s hesitation to stay, they decided to seize the opportunity.
Heather Oursin, another friend from the group, couldn’t contain her excitement when she saw Prince William. She told PEOPLE, I didn’t believe it when they told us he was coming, but when I saw him, my hair stood up on my arms. I had goosebumps.
During their interaction with the Prince, the friends shared details of their joint birthday celebration trip, revealing that they were all turning 60 this year. Prince William playfully pointed at a few of them and joked, saying they looked like trouble. Noreen Guptill, another friend, managed to capture some close-up photos of the special moment on her phone. Overwhelmed by the experience, she said, I can’t believe this happened on their combined birthday celebration trip. I can’t wait to tell my family and friends that I had the best birthday present ever!
In the midst of the impromptu meet-and-greet, some lucky individuals managed to have personal conversations with Prince William. A mother and daughter shared their stories of meeting him earlier and studying abroad in London, while a man named Safwon humorously mentioned that he was following the Prince, having also spotted him in the UK.
As the encounter came to a close, Prince William was gifted three I Love NY t-shirts for his children. He expressed his love for the Big Apple and revealed his desire to bring Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis to the city one day.
Overall, this unexpected meeting with Prince William turned out to be the best birthday gift for the Canadian friends. They were thrilled by the Prince’s warmth and kindness, cherishing the unforgettable experience for years to come.
