Prince William visited British troops in Estonia on Friday, donning battle gear to emphasize his country's support for NATO operations in Eastern Europe.
The heir to the British throne and eldest son of King Charles inspected infantry fighting vehicles and rode on a tank while wearing full camouflaged military fatigues at Tapa camp, located about 200 kilometers from the Russian border.
Britain has approximately 900 troops in Estonia and Poland as part of Operation Cabrit, contributing to NATO's expanded presence along the alliance's eastern flank following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
The prince's two-day visit coincided with increased defense spending by European allies in response to calls from the U.S. President for NATO nations to enhance their contributions to European security.
During his visit, he observed a trench clearance exercise amid barbed wire and plumes of yellow smoke. William also officiated at a handover ceremony between the Royal Dragoon Guards, concluding their deployment at Tapa, and the Mercian Regiment, which is beginning its six-month tour. As Colonel-in-Chief of the Mercian Regiment, the visit held additional significance for him.
His Kensington Palace office noted on X, "From field training to weapon systems operation, this deployment is key! So brilliant to see the dedication and expertise of our troops in action."
This symbolic visit marked William's first trip to the Baltic state. Two years prior, he met with British soldiers in Poland supporting Ukraine. He was scheduled to hear soldiers' experiences from deployment and discuss mental wellbeing with army welfare support officers.