Prince William's bingo hall gamble fails to pay off

Published on Wednesday 4 October 2006 12:10

PRINCE William went away empty-handed from a night playing bingo, it emerged today.

It was reported that the second-in-line to the throne went to a bingo club near Sandhurst last Friday, where he is currently training.

He used the name William Harry at the Mecca hall and paid 5 for a book of five tickets after becoming a club member - but did not win any of the 20 prizes.

The 24-year-old spent nearly an hour playing bingo at the club in Reading, Berkshire, with ten friends and he spoke to elderly people in the foyer, according to the report.

He is also said to have signed the back of another player's bingo card before drinking at three bars in the town. The bingo was apparently suggested by the Prince's fellow cadets at Sandhurst as a joke.

A spokeswoman for Clarence House confirmed the Prince was there.

Last month Clarence House announced that Prince William would continue his Army training in Dorset as he followed his brother, Prince Harry, into the Household Cavalry's Blues and Royals.

Prince William, who will one day be head of the Armed Forces, will train to be a troop leader in an armoured reconnaissance unit, just like Harry.

He will begin a six-month training course at Bovington Camp after passing out from Sandhurst in December.