Pensioner tells Prince William and Kate Middleton they did a ‘bloody s****y job’ at hosting bingo

Royal couple turned bingo callers during a virtual game with a care home in May 

Sarah Jones
Thursday 06 August 2020 12:25 BST
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'You did a bloody s***** job' as bingo caller, woman tells Prince William

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The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have faced criticism over their bingo calling skills, with one unimpressed pensioner telling the couple: “You did a bloody s****y job.”

On Wednesday, Prince William and Kate Middleton carried out a series of engagements in South Wales, including a visit to Shire Hall Care Home in Cardiff.

The royal couple previously met residents of Shire Hall via video-link in May, when they read out numbers for the home’s weekly bingo game.

At the time, William asked resident Joan Drew-Smith, 87, if they had done a good job, to which she replied: “Wasn’t as good as it should have been.”

Drew-Smith stuck by her initial thoughts when she met the couple in person. As the future king sat down with her and others, he reminded them of their last encounter, saying: “You might not recognise us with the [face masks] but we did the bingo with you.

“You said we didn't do a very good job?”

Drew-Smith replied: “No. You did a bloody s***** job.”

The pensioner’s response prompted howls of laughter from the royal couple and staff.

An amused William said: “Excellent. Was is that bad? Was it the worse you've ever seen?”

William and Kate visited residents at Shire Hall Care Home in Cardiff (Getty)
William and Kate visited residents at Shire Hall Care Home in Cardiff (Getty)

Drew-Smith said: “I've got more to see. Every time you have a party I will just come and have a nose and I will tell you afterwards.”

William and Kate received more positive feedback from other residents, including Margaret Stocks, 95, who told them that she enjoyed the bingo, saying: “I hadn’t played it before.”

During the virtual game, William and Kate used their own bingo spinner and took turns holding up balls to the screen, calling out the numbers in “bingo lingo".

Resident Joan Drew-Smith said the royal couple did a ‘bloody s****y job’ at bingo calling (Getty)
Resident Joan Drew-Smith said the royal couple did a ‘bloody s****y job’ at bingo calling (Getty)

The duke chose a ball and held it up to the camera, saying “one little duck, number two”, followed by Kate who reached for the next two balls: “Eight and seven, 87. Six and two, tickety-boo.”

The Cambridges also visited a series of tourism spots on Barry Island, the setting of popular sitcom Gavin and Stacey, during their trip to Wales.

The duke and duchess briefly let their hair down while playing a teddy game at the Island Leisure Amusement Arcade and also spoke to members of the public while separated from the crowd by a metal barrier.

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