23.05.2025 12:01
Prince William and Kate Middleton were at the naming ceremony of HMS Glasgow at the BAE Systems shipyard. Kate officially named the ship with a bottle of Scotch whisky. As the couple was leaving, a member of the crowd couldn't help but shout, "You're very beautiful!" to the princess. William jokingly responded to the compliment, saying, "You don't have to say that, don't worry!" It is said that the ceremonial act brings good luck and fortune to the ship and its crew.
```html
Prince William gave a witty response to a royal fan who referred to Kate as "beautiful" on Thursday afternoon.
The Prince and Princess of Wales were at the traditional naming ceremony of HMS Glasgow at the BAE Systems shipyard in Scotstoun, on the banks of the River Clyde.
43-year-old Kate officially named HMS Glasgow by striking the hull with a bottle of local Scottish whisky. The royal, who kept her appearance suitably nautical for the occasion, wore a £1,850 navy and white coat dress from the British brand Suzannah London and a matching glamorous hat by Philip Treacy, which she first wore at Trooping the Colour in 2024.
As the couple departed, a well-wisher in the crowd couldn't help but shout "You're so beautiful!" to the princess.
And to not leave her husband out, she added, "You too, William!" These moments were captured by local news outlet Clyde News.
42-year-old William, clearly amused by the surprise compliment, joked, "You don't have to say that, don't worry!"
As the crowd erupted in laughter at his self-deprecating remark, the couple bid farewell after a busy afternoon.
Earlier, Kate, stepping onto the podium in front of a crowd of several hundred BAE employees, their families, and a 45-member ship's crew, said the honored words of the time: "I have the pleasure of naming this ship HMS Glasgow, may God bless her and all who sail in her."
The princess then turned a small red "launch" button to release a special single malt whisky bottle made by the nearby Clydeside Distillery.
The ceremonial act is said to bring good luck and fortune to the ship and her crew.
The distillery opened its doors in 2017, the year construction of HMS Glasgow began, marking the start of two modern icons of Glasgow's maritime heritage.
Every bottle of whisky sold will include a donation to Place2Be, the charity chosen by HMS Glasgow, of which the princess is a patron, supporting the mental health of children in the city.
The princess was selected as the sponsor of the 8,000-ton warship, the state-of-the-art Type 26 anti-submarine frigate, in June 2021, and is said to have a "real interest" in the ship and "interest in the lives of those who will serve on her."
A year later, Kate met with Royal Navy sailors from HMS Glasgow at Windsor Castle to discuss the ship's progress and their experiences in the Royal Navy.
```