Prince William spoke of his Christmas hopes revealing he will be sitting down with 45 family members – but is most looking forward to a long dog walk and movie time with Charlotte, George and Louis

The Prince of Wales, 42, brought festive cheer and handed out Christmas presents to children and families at a festive party for 1st Battalion Mercian Regiment in Wiltshire.

William, colonel-in-chief of the regiment, met soldiers and their families at Picton Barracks, Bulford Camp, in Wiltshire, during a light-hearted and fun lunch. He was greeted at the entrance by 18-month-old the regimental mascot Private Derby the ram.

Told the Swaleside ram has been the 33rd mascot since 1858, he said: “I can see you are holding on tightly, he looks fantastic, very smart.”

William was greeted by the regimental mascot Derby the ram ( 
Image:
PA)
When William was informed the mascot he was off to spend Christmas in a “field full of ewes”, William replied: “So he has quite a fun Christmas. Oh good luck to him.” Inside the sergeant’s mess he chatted and joked at ten tables of servicemen and women and their children.

Karson Heighway, 10, handed Wills a drawing of the prince he had penned on a post-it note. Wills looked at the drawing and said: “Is that me?” The prince then joked: “Looks like I have five nostrils.”

But he was suitably impressed to fold the drawing up and put it in his breast pocket.

The Mercian Regiment is largely personnel drawn from the Midlands and the Christmas party was filled with football fans supporting the likes of Stoke, West Brom, Wolves and Aston Villa.

Guests donned Christmas jumpers for the festive occasion ( 
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POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
William, who on Saturday met Donald Trump in Paris at the ceremonial reopening of the Notre Dame Cathedral, revealed he will be watching Villa’s Champions League tie away to RB Leipzig from home. He said: “I was trying to get to the game but have got a lot of things going on.” Asked about his Royal Family Christmas plans, he revealed hopes for long walks with the family dog as they spend the festive period in Norfolk. He said: “Am I ready for Christmas? No, no way am I ready.”

But told another table he was looking forward to Christmas with 45 members of his family “all in one room” but “normally spread out”. William asked five-year-old Alexander Fitzgerald what he wanted for Christmas. His dad Sgt Lee Fitzgerald, 39, said afterwards: “He said he wanted a Nintendo Switch and when they spoke about playing Mario Kart William said he was supposed to let your dad win sometimes.”

All servicemen and their families wore Christmas jumpers to the bash. Ten-year-old Isobelle McNeil and her younger brother Hunter, 5, handed William a Father Christmas hat present and Christmas card written to George, Charlotte and Louis.

William handed out gifts whilst he was there ( 
Image:
PA)Mum Fiona Dewar McNeil said: “William asked what Father Christmas was going to bring for him and Hunter said he was going to get a big Tyrannosaurus Rex. He said ‘I hope all your dreams come true’.”

Seven-year-old Sanganoo Kejhan also handed William a hand-made Christmas card. Dylan Potter, 14, made William laugh after revealing he was wearing two Christmas jumpers. He said afterwards: “I asked what does a prince do for fun? He said he likes watching movies and hanging out with his children but because he is over 40 finds fun hard to come by.”

William also revealed, while chatting to families, that he has been watching Netflix with Kate including ‘Black Doves’ starring Kiera Knightly. Not only did William turn down the chance to wear the Santa hat but was also not wearing a Christmas jumper. He was heard saying while pointing at himself: “Some people don’t own one.” When asked why he wasn’t wearing a jumper he pointed across the room at his new equerry Squadron Leader Mike Reynolds, and said jokingly: “I didn’t know, you see that guy in the jacket, it’s his fault and I will be having a word.”

He told families: “I hope you have a quiet Christmas.” Towards the end he joked: “Ten tables, it’s like I’m speed dating.” He was also treated to a song from a Fijian choir – formed of soldiers from the Mercian Regiment.