High above the rainforest floor, tiny ponds form in the leaves of plants perched on tree branches. Frogs breed in these ponds, alongside insects, microbes and even tiny crustaceans, creating miniature ecosystems suspended high in the canopy. These are the bromeliads – the remarkable plant family that also gave us air plants, the towering 12-metre “Queen of the Andes”, and the pineapple on your terrible pizza.

Many people think of plants as nice-looking greens. Essential for clean air, yes, but simple organisms. A step change in research is shaking up the way scientists think about plants: they are far more complex and more like us than you might imagine. This blossoming field of science is too delightful to do it justice in one or two stories.
This article is part of a series, Plant Curious, exploring scientific studies that challenge the way you view plantlife.

Bromeliads are one of the great evolutionary success stories of the neotropics, the tropical ecosystems of the Americas. The ancestor of all living bromeliads existed just 20 million years ago, and since then, they have branched into about 3,800 species. To put this into perspective, hydrozoans – a lineage of predatory jellyfish-like animals – took more than 500 million years to evolve about 3,800 species.

Explaining how the remarkable plant biodiversity of the neotropics evolved remains one of the greatest challenges in evolutionary biology. Bromeliads, which are almost entirely unique to this region, provide one of the best natural experiments for investigation. My colleague Elizabeth Forward and I have published a new study that confirms hummingbirds played a crucial role in this plant family’s evolution.

Over the past 20 million years, bromeliads repeatedly evolved new adaptations to the point that some of them are hard to recognise as close cousins.

Many abandoned the forest floor to grow on tree branches as epiphytes (meaning they use their host as a perch and don’t harm it). Others evolved leaf formations that trap rainwater. Some evolved Cam photosynthesis, the same water-saving strategy used by cacti living in the harshest deserts.

Plants that use Cam photosynthesis only absorb carbon dioxide at night, when it is cooler. These adaptations allowed bromeliads to maximise new ecological opportunities at high speed.

However, one idea that dates back to Charles Darwin is perhaps the strongest, and that is the influence of different pollinators.

The hummingbird hypothesis

Most flowering plants, including the earliest bromeliad ancestors, are pollinated by insects such as bees. However, at least half of all bromeliad species today are pollinated by hummingbirds, and some others rely on bats, butterflies or moths.

Scientists have long suspected that the repeated evolutionary shifts between pollinators helped accelerate the formation of new bromeliad species. But exactly when these shifts occurred, and what effect they had on diversity, has remained uncertain.

My colleague and I tested this idea. We compiled pollinator records for more than 400 bromeliad species, and reconstructed the history of how bromeliads switched between pollinators through 20 million years of evolution.

Our analyses support the idea that the earliest bromeliads were pollinated by bees. Following this, there were repeated shifts, primarily to hummingbirds, but also bats and butterflies. Bromeliads experimented with different pollinators as they spread into new habitats across the neotropics. Our results reveal a more dynamic evolutionary history than scientists previously suspected.

One pattern stood out. The bromeliads pollinated by hummingbirds split into new species at almost double the normal rate.

New species usually arise when populations become separated and gradually stop exchanging genetic material. Given enough time and isolation, enough genetic differences accumulate that they become unable to reproduce with each other. Pollinators can influence this process because they help shape which populations of plants are genetically connected and can reproduce together.

One possibility is that hummingbirds move pollen around differently to insects as many species move larger distances, which changes how genetic material flows across landscapes. Different pollinators also favour different flower colours, shapes and flowering times. Hummingbirds often prefer long, bright red and tubular flowers with copious nectar rewards, which match their long, slender beaks and hovering feeding behaviour. Over thousands of generations, these small differences build up. In mountainous regions, where many hummingbirds live, and in which valleys and peaks naturally separate populations, these effects may become even stronger.

Like most evolutionary stories, there is unlikely to be a single explanation that explains everything. Other innovations, such as epiphytism, also accelerate diversification rates. However, our study suggests that hummingbirds were of particular importance for bromeliads, helping to accelerate one of the fastest known plant radiations.

An ongoing evolutionary story

This high-speed evolutionary story of bromeliads has not finished. Our reconstruction shows that many shifts between pollinators occurred surprisingly recently. For example, the hummingbird-pollinated Hechtia iltisii, which looks a bit like a cross between a spider plant and an aloe vera. Its closest cousins are bee-pollinated.

In fact, about a quarter of bromeliad species changed their pollinator from that of their most recent ancestor in the last few million years, suggesting that bromeliads are still experimenting today. But they, and hummingbirds, face unprecedented pressures from habitat loss and climate change, threatening not only individual species but the evolutionary interactions that generate biodiversity across the neotropics.

Up to 81% of bromeliads are predicted to be possibly threatened with extinction. And dozens of hummingbird species are considered endangered.

Every pineapple in the supermarket, every air plant on a bathroom windowsill, and every pond-forming bromeliad clinging to a rainforest tree is the result of 20 million years of high-speed evolutionary experimentation. Tiny hummingbirds in particular have helped transform a single ancestral plant population into one of the richest bouquets of neotropical plant biodiversity.

Jarell Quansah has been banned for two games by Fifa for his red card in England’s last-16 win over Mexico.

Quansah was sent off after VAR review following a reckless sliding challenge which saw his studs go into the shin of Jesus Gallardo.

England were considering appealing the decision after Fifa suspended USA striker Folarin Balogun’s one-match ban, something that was lobbied for by US president Donald Trump in a hugely controversial move.

However, England have now discovered that Quansah’s suspension has been doubled to two matches instead of one after Fifa found him in breach of Article 14 of their code of conduct, which states a player would get a two-game ban for serious foul play.

It means the Bayer Leverkusen defender will miss both Saturday’s quarter-final against Norway as well as a potential semi-final against either Argentina or Switzerland, with the only prospect of a return for the defender being in the final if they get that far.

More to follow.

Hello and welcome to coverage from Wimbledon on women’s semi-final day.

Our opening match is Coco Gauff vs Karolina Muchova on Centre Court. For the ninth successive year, there will be a first-time women’s champion.

World No 7 Gauff, the highest seed left, is ‌the only one of ‌those left standing who even knows what ⁠it is like to lift a Grand Slam trophy – having done so at the US and French Opens.

But even she is surprised with her run to the Wimbledon semis as she had been left scarred following her poor showings on turf in recent years.

“If you told me I would be in the semis … I’d be, ‘You’re funny’. Especially … the last two ⁠years not winning anything on here,” said the 22-year-old American who has been a regular visitor to Wimbledon since 2019 when she beat Venus Williams in the first round as a 15-year-old schoolgirl.

“Do I feel like Wimbledon is part of my destiny? If you asked me seven days ago, the answer would have been no. Honestly, I was writing it off a little bit.

“But I hope it is part of my destiny, whether it’s this year or in ​the future. I definitely would love to see my name on the champions’ ‌wall, for sure.”

Gauff holds a psychological 6-1 advantage over 10th seed Muchova going into the match. Muchova produced a classy display to beat Naomi Osaka on Tuesday and should be a tough test for Gauff.

“Well, she is just, like, great athlete overall,” Muchova said. “One of the best in the world, in our sport. It was tough to play against her. I’m happy we have 0-0 on the grass. That’s a bit better balance for me there.

“Yeah, I mean, she gives you a lot of balls back. She has a lot of weapons. She is big fighter, which as well gives a lot of, yeah, things to her game to make it awkward for me.”

A historic Edinburgh Debenhams building has been gutted by a major fire.

Firefighters rushed to quell the inferno on Princes Street after being called to the scene at 2.52am this morning.

The roof and top floors of the B-listed building have been destroyed by the blaze with the rest of the ancient building left blackened and charred inside and out.

There have been no reports of any injuries and the cause of the fire has not been reported.

Seven fire engines and three specialist appliances were still on the scene four hours after the call was first made at 6.45am, the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service said.

Pictures have circulated on social media during the night of the flames carving through the dark and black smoke rising from the wreckage.

Large parts of Princes Street have been cordoned off as firefighters battle the blaze and members of the public have been told to avoid the area.

Passers-by spoke of their sadness over the incident.

Firefighters were called to Princes Street at 2.52am and were still on the scene more than four hours later

Graham Reed, 59, from Edinburgh, said: ‘It’s such a shame.

‘It’s an iconic building, and it’s such a shame that yet another one’s gone up in flames on Princes Street.

‘It’s just a shame to see it because we lost a couple, there was one down in Jenners as well that went up in flames a few years back.

‘It’s a shame it happens.’

Another man, who gave his name as Sotirs, 36, and was on his way to his work in Edinburgh, said: ‘I feel sad because it looks like a classic building and I feel bad because they make the city much more beautiful and it’s a nice building.’

Tram services in the area have been disrupted and some bus services have been diverted.

Edinburgh Trams said they are running a reduced service from Edinburgh Airport to the West End only.

It said that ticket acceptance is in place with ScotRail between Edinburgh Gateway and Edinburgh Waverley (St Andrew Square) and on Lothian Buses between the West End and Newhaven.

Lothian Buses said that some services in the area have been diverted.

Edinburgh city council leader Jane Meagher said: ‘I’m relieved to hear that nobody has been hurt, and grateful for the swift response of the emergency services – who prevented this devastating fire becoming far worse.

‘Once the area has been made safe, we will fully assess the condition of the building and consider next steps.

‘I hope that local residents who were evacuated during the night will be able to return home soon.

‘I’d urge people to continue to avoid the area for the time being, plan for ongoing disruption and follow all advice from the emergency services and transport operators.’

The building at 109 Princes Street dates back to 1869 and was originally called the Palace Hotel. 

Pictures of the inferno circulated across social media as shocked members of the public watched on in horror

The roof and top floors of the B-listed building have been destroyed by the blaze with the rest of the ancient building left blackened and charred inside and out

The historic building was first opened as the Palace Hotel in 1869. It then became Debenhams in 1978 after serving as the base of the Scottish Liberal Club from 1890

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The Debenhams branch there closed down in May 2021 after another fire in April that year and investors have since had plans to revamp it as a hotel

Police have cordoned off large parts of Princes Street and diversions are in place for the tram and bus network

It later served as the base of the Scottish Liberal Club – a gentleman’s club – in 1890, until it was taken over by Debenhams department store in 1978, as well as the building next door, which housed the Scottish Conservative Club.

This is not the first fire at this building in recent times. The Debenhams department store shut down in May 2021 following a fire that April and was never reopened before the company folded.

The building was then bought by Legal and General in 2021, who planned a £ 50 million revamp by converting it back into a 107-room luxury boutique hotel and ‘hospitality hub’, but the plans collapsed.

Then, new investors arrived from Criterion Capital – a development company led by billionaire Asif Aziz – who planned to turn it into a Zedwell hotel, which would have been the first in Scotland.

Features of the B-listed property have been included in records – including a historic bust of former Prime Minister William Gladstone, which likely will have been lost in the inferno.

A spokesperson for the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service said: ‘We were called at 2.52am on Thursday, 9 July, to reports of a fire within a former department store building on Princes Street, Edinburgh.

‘Operations Control mobilised six appliances and two height appliances plus supporting resources to the scene and firefighters worked through the early hours of the morning to contain and extinguish the flames.

‘Crews continue to extinguish and dampen down hotspots and will be in attendance for some time.

‘Drivers and pedestrians are advised to avoid the area and road closures are in place.

‘There are no reported casualties.’

Another fire took hold at Scotland’s second city when a similar B-listed historic building was torched after a vape shop below caught alight in March.

The building was totally destroyed, with the council saying that a cordon would remain in place for the clean-up until this month – five months after the fire.

The historic 1851 Union Corner building was reduced to rubble, leaving dozens of business to have to seek new premises.

Some 250 firefighters were at the scene for four days after the blaze – from March 8 to March 11 – and the wreckage was handed over to Glasgow City Council on March 12 to deal with the remains. 

Police have closed several roads after a serious incident in Swansea.

South Wales Police said the incident happened in Pen Cae Crwn Road in Gorseinon at around 12.58pm on Thursday.

A significant police presence remains in the area while emergency services continue to deal with the incident.

The Welsh Ambulance Service has said it was called to two incidents just minutes apart.

“We were called today at 12.59pm to an incident in Gorseinon,” a spokesman said.

“We sent one Cymru High Acuity Response Unit and an emergency ambulance to the scene. Advanced critical care support was delivered by the Emergency Medical Retrieval and Transfer Service in a Wales Air Ambulance charity helicopter. One patient was conveyed by road to hospital.

“Additionally we were called at 1.10pm to another incident in Gorseinon. We sent one Cymru High Acuity Response Unit, a duty operations manager, and an emergency ambulance to the scene.” For the biggest stories in Wales first sign up to our daily newsletter here.

A number of road closures are currently in place.

Pen Cae Crwn Road is closed between Cecil Road, from the junction with High Street and the junction with Frampton Road.

Brighton Road, Brynteg Road, and Pontardulais Road are also closed with no access from any direction.

The closures are expected to remain in place for some time.

Scroll down for live updates and make sure you are signed up to get daily breaking news updates on your phone by joining our WhatsApp community here:

In November 2021, Jersey’s States Assembly became the first parliament in the British Isles to decide “in principle” that assisted dying should be allowed.

In May 2024 it voted in favour of drawing up laws for an assisted dying service after the government said it “intends to bring forward proposals without further delay”.

In February this year 32 politicians voted in favour of the law with 16 voting against.

At the time Binet, said: “Jersey would have one of the safest and most transparent assisted dying laws in the world.”

Under the law, eligibility for an assisted death requires someone to be at least 18-years-old.

They must also have been resident in Jersey for at least 12 months, to have a voluntary, settled and informed wish to end their own life, and be terminally ill with a life expectancy of six months, or 12 months if they have a neurodegenerative disease.

Government of Jersey said there was an assisted dying capacity test which states that the doctor must be satisfied that the individual is able to:

The person may require communication support to do what was required in the capacity test.​

As a Crown Dependency, for primary legislation to get Royal Assent and therefore formally become law in Jersey, the Ministry of Justice and the Lord Chancellor – currently David Lammy – ensure the proposed laws do not conflict with fundamental rights or international rules and then recommending to the Privy Council that assent should be granted.

The Harrogate Brewing Company won Silver in the Milds Category in the 026 Champion Beer of Britain Awards, organised by the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA).

The competition is one of the UK’s most respected beer awards, with breweries from across the country fighting for national honours.

Royal Parade owners Joe and Julie Joyce marked their success by raising a pint outside the Harrogate venue, proudly displaying the award certificate.

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Joe says all his beers are good and his Nidd Mild has won other awards, including a SIBA (Society of Independent Brewers and Associates) Gold award last year.

Joe told the Press: “It’s a traditional Mild, 3.7% ABV, using fuggles and other hops. Dark beers are having a renaissance and you can drink them all-year-round, not just winter.”

One drinker posted on the brewery’s Facebook page, which announced the award success: “That Nidd Mild is a cracking pint.. well deserved award.”

Another said: “Well done! You’re doing a fantastic job with your brewery.”

The Harrogate Brewing Company has also produced a ‘Great Yorkshire Beer’ in association with Fodders for the Great Yorkshire Show.

Joe said: “It’s been showcased at the Great Yorkshire. It’s a 3.8% easy drinking session pale ale using citra and mosaic hops.”

Last year, the Harrogate Brewing Company took over the former Old Bell inn on Royal Parade, creating the Harrogate Brewing Company Royal Parade.

The brewery has now completed the conversion of former offices that were used by previous owners, Market Town Taverns into three Air BnBs, known as Royal 6 Apartments.

Joe added: “We have gone full-circle with the accommodation, back to a traditional coaching inn with rooms.”

The Sikh man who murdered student Henry Nowak with a dagger has denied a string of charges relating to the possession of an arsenal of 55 offensive weapons.

Vickrum Digwa, 23, who was jailed for life last month for murdering Henry, 18, denied owning weapons including two flick knives, an extendable baton, eight knuckle dusters, three machetes, a traditional Japanese weapon, three ninja swords and 37 other swords.

Vickrum appeared remotely from Frankland Prison in County Durham today at Southampton Magistrates’ Court, alongside his brother, 27-year-old Gurpreet Digwa, and his father, 52-year-old Moga Singh, who have also been charged with owning illegal weapons at their home in Southampton.

The alleged weapons offences took place on December 4, 2025, at the family’s home on St Denys Road in the Hampshire city.

One of the weapons Vickrum is accused of possessing, a manriki-gusari, a traditional Japanese weapon that includes a weighted metal chain.

Gurpreet denied charges of possessing an offensive weapon, namely an extendable baton, an axe and a kirpan that were found in a car parked on Belmont Road in Southampton, and is also charged with possessing an air weapon on Belmont Road.

Singh, father of Henry Nowak’s murderer Vickrum Digwa, was charged with a string of weapons offences

As was his other son, Gurpreet Digwa, who also tried to hide his face as he entered court today

Digwa wore his coat done up and a hood over his head, while his face was covered by a mask, despite the baking temperatures in Southampton

Vickrum Digwa, 23, was given a life sentence with a minimum term of 21 years in prison before release for the murder of Henry Nowak on a night out in Southampton last December

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The trio also face charges of possessing three push daggers in a public place, but did not enter pleas for these charges.

District Judge Henry Gordon said: ‘You all pleaded not guilty to the charges that were put before the court.’

He said their trial would be held on September 27 next year.

Gurpreet and Moga  who both sought to cover their faces as they entered the court building – were released on bail. Vickrum appeared via video link from HMP Frankland in County Durham.

Henry died in police handcuffs on a night out in December last year after a chance encounter with Vickrum Digwa as the first-year student – alone, unarmed, and with only a trace of alcohol in his system – made his way home.

A brief tussle ensued after Digwa took Henry’s phone, then Digwa removed his dagger from his sheath, which he carried in accordance with his faith, and plunged it 8cm (3.5in) into the victim’s chest.

Digwa further stabbed Henry twice to the leg, and once in the abdomen, while the victim also sustained a slash mark to his face.

Digwa, with brother Gurpreet arriving on the scene shortly after the attack, then filmed Henry as he attempted to get away from his attacker.

Mr Nowak died after being attacked by Vickrum Digwa as he made his way home following a night out in Southampton, where he was a first-year university student

The trio appeared at Southampton Magistrates’ Court for a plea hearing today

Singh tried to cover his face from photographers as he attended a previous hearing with his son Gurpreet last month

Digwa lied when police turned up a short time later, falsely claiming that Henry was the attacker, had punched and kicked Digwa, knocked his turban off, and had made a racist remark.

Hampshire Police officers then placed mortally wounded Henry into handcuffs, despite his desperate pleas – captured on police bodycam – that he had been stabbed.

He also told officers he could not breathe as he lay dying, but they did not listen.

One officer replied: ‘I don’t think you have, mate.’

He and a second officer are currently under investigation for potential gross misconduct.

Digwa’s mother, Kiran Kaur, and father Singh had by now arrived at the scene, and Digwa secretly told his mother to take the dagger home.

Kaur, 53, is due to be sentenced next week for assisting an offender. 

Digwa was later secretly recorded speaking in Punjabi to Gurpreet, in which the attacker agreed to pretend he had acted in self-defence even though he earlier confessed to his brother he had stabbed Henry.

He also told Gurpreet that if there were any cameras at the scene he would be unable to put forward self-defence.

Digwa was handed a life sentence in June this year with a minimum term of 21 years before being considered eligible for parole.

Judge William Mousley KC told the defendant, who showed no emotion: ‘In addition to killing Henry, and the irreparable harm to those close to him, you have also caused real suffering to others who knew him.

‘You have brought shame upon your family, your community and your religion.

‘Your actions have stirred up racial tension in Southampton and across the country which have made many Sikhs worried about their own safety even though they have done absolutely nothing wrong.’

He described Henry, the first in his family to attend university, as a ‘much-loved, kind, hard-working and ambitious young man, devoted to his family and with a bright future’.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer previously said he ‘felt sick’ watching footage of police handcuffing Henry as he lay dying, and that there are ‘serious questions’ to answer about the case.

The footage also prompted large protests in the streets.

The Prince of Wales soared to the top of a celebrity leaderboard at a Hastings seafront crazy golf course, after taking on the famous windmill hole.

The Prince, who said he had played mini golf with his family before, played five holes at Hastings Adventure Golf as part of a day out with local young people.

The Hastings course was home to the 2026 World Crazy Golf Championships in June, with competitors from around the world all vying for the sport’s largest prize fund.

Joining teenagers on the seafront, as a small crowd watched, he did not manage a hole in one, but finished respectably.

After the Prince had left at the end of the engagement, the mini golfers averaged his score out across the usual 18 holes, saying that he might have made it in 33 but that they would settle on 35 as a conservative estimate.

The number would place him at the top of a celebrity leaderboard, with comedian Tim Vine in second place with 37, then comedian Henning Wehn with 39, magician John Archer at 41 and presenter and author Fern Britton at 45 – all have played the full 18 holes.

The Prince was introduced to the traditional course by expert players David and Marion Hartley, members of Hastings Mini Golf Club who managed the course for 14 years before they retired, and Murray Thompson, who came second in the World Mini Golf Championships last year.

Mr and Mrs Hartley, who are 74 and 75 respectively and both among the country’s leading players, joked that they would not be going easy on the Prince, but would give him tips ‘if he asked’.

The Prince had made it known to them, via his Kensington Palace team, that he was particularly keen to play the windmill hole, which involves hitting the ball through moving sails to send it through the windmill and into the hole.

He hit the ball through on the second attempt, making it a hole in three.

He played four other holes in total – two with the experts and two with local young people – taking two attempts each time to hit the ball into the hole.

The Prince joked that ‘next time he would play with a bunch of eight-year-olds, so I might have more chance’.

Mr Thompson, 41, hit hole-in-ones each time. ‘Stop it Murray,’ said the Prince as he watched him repeat the feat. ‘Oh my Lord, Murray!’

Locals had not been aware that the Prince was visiting the mini golf course, with a few dozen people – friends and family of staff – gathering to catch a glimpse of him before words spread.

The Prince said of his prior mini golf experience with his family: ‘We’ve played a few times. The children love it.’

One player reassured him: ‘We’ll stand back when you swing.’

Prince William in a wooden net shop in the Old Town

William played crazy golf with young people supported by the local youth charity XTrax 

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The Hastings Adventure Golfo course was home to the 2026 World Crazy Golf Championships in June, with competitors from around the world all vying for the sport’s largest prize fund

Prince William also met school children on the beach during his visit to Hastings, East Sussex, to highlight the town’s fishing community and the vital work of local youth-led and community-driven organisations

The Prince of Wales with young people and volunteers at the Common Room at Eagle House, which functions as a ‘public living room’ and youth club

 When he potted the golf ball in two goes for the first straightforward hole, the Prince said: ‘Phew.’

Mrs Hartley gave him some advice for the ‘tricky’ third hole – the Prince took on holes one, three, and five – and he repeated ‘Ok, hug the wood’.

‘You make it look so easy,’ he told his fellow players, as they each got a hole in one through the windmill.

In a second part of the engagement, the Prince met staff and teenagers from Hastings youth charity, XTrax, which works with disadvantaged young people to give them a safe and welcoming space.

He joined five young people to play two extra holes, stopping in between to speak to them quietly and at length about their lives and prospects.

As he left, he wished them good luck in their job search and promised that he would ‘make sure their opinions are heard and respected’.

‘And put on some suncream,’ he said, laughing, as he left.

As he made his way to a waiting car, he stopped to shake hands with around 100 people who had gathered to see and photograph him.

Among them was four-and-a-half-year-old Thea, who was dressed as a pirate after ‘Pirate Day’ at her playgroup, and was happy to shake hands with a ‘real Prince’.

Afterwards, Mr and Mrs Hartley and Mr Thompson assessed the Prince’s golfing skills as ‘better than a tourist’.

William talking to fisherman Steve Gurka in the Old Town, during his visit to Hastings

He also made the time to greet well-wishers during his trip 

Prince William aboard a fishing boat 

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‘Put him under our wing for a few days and he’d be good,’ added Mr Hartley.

‘He’s a lovely man,’ said Mrs Hartley.

Earlier the prince said he was ‘confident’ about England’s chances against Norway this weekend when asked about the football.

The heir-to-the-throne shared his mood when he surprised a class of four and five year olds eating their packed lunches on the beach.

Parent volunteer Ben Tivey, 40, who was accompanying daughter Tilly, five, and other members of Diamond Class at Cranbrook Church of England Primary School, raised the subject of the World Cup, telling William: ‘Come on England!’

The Prince, smiling broadly, replied: ‘I’m feeling confident.’

The group, who were taking part in their first-ever school trip, were amazed to see the future King stroll past on The Stade, the town’s shingle beach.

Moments earlier, William had been presented with a silver winkle as he became an honorary member of The Winkle Club, a charitable organisation founded by local fishermen in 1900 to support deprived families in the area, which now supports good causes and community groups across the town.

‘That’s a stunning winkle,’ said the Prince as he admired the gift, adding with a grin, ‘ I will take good care of my winkle.’

William laughed as he was told how members of the Club, known as ‘Winklers’ carry a winkle shell which they must produce when challenged to ‘Winkle Up’. Failure to do so results in a fine, which is donated to local charities.

There is an exemption for anyone ‘in working gear’, he was told.

‘I might do it on the Trooping the Colour,’ he joked.

Previous holders of the title bestowed by the charitable organisation include Queen Elizabeth II, the Queen Mother, the Duke of Kent, Sir Winston Churchill and Field Marshal Lord Montgomery.

The Prince had arrived for a day of engagements in Hastings in style, riding the UK’s steepest funicular railway.

Opened in 1902, the East Hill railway looks out onto Europe’s largest beach-launched fishing fleet on The Stade.

He was greeted by a crowd of wellwishers, including a school party from Germany, several dogs and 15-month-old Sebastian Bowley, who promptly burst into tears when William crouched down to say hello.

‘I know how you feel,’ said the Prince. ‘It’s hot down here! Are you having a dip?’ he asked locals.

He headed first to a row of historic Net Shops – tall wooden structures built to store fishing nets to protect them from the elements. He was welcomed by Steve Peak, honorary curator of The Fishermen’s Museum, and Stephen Roberts-Pratt, the Museum’s manager and shipkeeper.

William ducked his head to enter the tiny Net Shops Museum, a restored 1835 tower which now leans to one side, but has been made safe by the council.

After hearing about the history of the fishing industry in the town, he headed to the beach to hear more from local fishermen.

He stopped to chat to Steve Gurka, who was finishing a fishing net by hand before taking it out in the hope of catching Dover Sole.

He also climbed a ladder to board the Senlac Jack, a fishing vessel used to catch Dover Sole to hear more from Paul and other local fishermen