Prince William’s arrival in Estonia felt like the latest example of the Royal Family being right on the frontline of high-stakes diplomatic discussions.
There’s been no attempt by the UK government and Foreign Office to shy away from why the prince was deployed.
With Estonia sharing a border with Russia and being a big supporter of Ukraine, the government wants the prince to emphasise it’s got the UK’s full support, especially with anxiety rising over what a potential ceasefire might really mean.
The prince’s meeting with President Karis was essential for both sides, and the media was quickly hurried out of their discussions – a sign of the seriousness of the talks.
But while he was there to show support for his hosts, there was also important recognition of those they are playing host to, the 60,000 Ukrainian refugees who have fled to Estonia.
As William visited a school, the Freedom School, set up in 2022 especially for Ukrainian students, he repeated the same message twice over – of praising Ukraine’s resilience.
The Prince of Wales during a visit to the Freedom School in Tallinn.
Pic: Andrew Parsons/Kensington Palace
The Prince of Wales shakes hands with the President of Estonia Alar Karis, at the Presidential Office in Tallinn. Pic: PA
He accepted a Taylor Swift-style bracelet in the Ukrainian colours – another little touch that you can’t quite imagine a politician styling out. But that’s what soft power is all about – the optics sometimes more important than words.
It comes at a time when the concept of royal soft power has certainly felt more obvious.
The King offering a hand of support to President Zelenskyy at Sandringham, just days after his clash with Donald Trump.
And who can forget that letter the King sent to Mr Trump offering a second state visit, part of UK efforts to woo the US president.
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There’s also been a show of the monarch displaying support for Canada through two meetings with the outgoing and incoming prime ministers.
William’s no stranger to playing his part – remember his meeting with Donald Trump in Paris last year? Certainly a lot has changed since then.
As I watched him on a walkabout in Tallinn, taking people’s cameras who wanted selfies with him, it was a reminder that away from meeting presidents or prime ministers, the royals do have an ability to reach an audience that politicians simply can’t.
William’s deployment is very much welcomed during these tense diplomatic times.
