As a royal family fan, I’m always here for a new picture or portrait (King Charles’s latest was particularly striking). Generally, they are quite posed and professional (they are royals, after all). But occasionally, there are exceptions, and we get a truly candid shot.

This morning, for example, Buckingham Palace released a surprisingly unkempt and “real” photo of the latest addition to the family. And now, the royals have done it again with these truly honest images of Prince William.

RICHARD POHLE/POOL/AFP via Getty Images

Today, the Prince of Wales, 42, embarked on a solo outing, leaving wife Kate Middleton and the rest of the Wales clan at home. He paid a visit to NatureMetrics, which happens to be one of the finalists for his coveted Earthshot Prize.

In an Instagram post from the event, Kensington Palace shared, “Excited to catch up with 2024 @earthshotprize Finalists @naturemetrics today, who have been backed by $25M investment, supported by The Earthshot Prize’s investment matchmaking platform Launchpad. This growth capital will help NatureMetrics’s innovation scale globally, helping to protect ecosystems all over the world.”

The caption continued, “A fascinating morning learning how their environmental DNA tech maps biodiversity to help organisations make smarter, more sustainable choices.”

But perhaps even more fascinating than the morning’s “learnings”? Just how much fun the Prince of Wales appeared to be having.

Richard Pohle – WPA Pool/Getty Images

Cameras captured a series of images of the dad of three having a blast with syringes. While he was in full-on father mode, the prince and local schoolchildren filtered DNA samples from local pond water using syringes. Naturally, a water gun fight of sorts ensued.

In the photos, Prince William is truly enjoying himself, with a large smile, making goofy faces and really embracing the moment. (A large contrast to the aforementioned posed royal portraits indeed.)

Richard Pohle – WPA Pool/Getty Images

With a string of good news for the royal family, like the latest newborn and Princess Catherine’s cancer remission, it’s great to see the prince back to his old self again.

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