Prince William and Princess Kate recently shared an amusing moment with a well-known train enthusiast that has gone viral on TikTok, with viewers noting their looks of confusion.
Back in May 2023, the Prince and Princess of Wales hopped on the Elizabeth Line in West London—a tribute to the late Queen Elizabeth II. As they exited at Tottenham Court Road en route to the Dog and Duck pub in Soho, they found themselves chatting with Francis Bourgeois, a popular TikTok influencer famous for his quirky enthusiasm for trains.
Bourgeois is known for his charmingly awkward style, often filming himself up close with a GoPro. A clip of their interaction has garnered significant attention, racking up over 15,000 likes and nearly 90,000 views. The video was shared with the caption: “I discovered these two are millennials while making this and idk how to feel about that.”
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On-screen captions humorously suggested that Kate and William were clueless about who Bourgeois was, as he excitedly introduced himself saying, “Erm, very nice to meet you.” Kate responded warmly, while William added, “Hi, how are you doing very nice to see you?”
Bourgeois cheerily wished them enjoyment on the Elizabeth Line, to which William responded with a casual “Yeah, it’s been good. Have a good day.” Bourgeois then sat down, seemingly starstruck by the encounter.
He later shared the footage online, humorously noting, “The Elizabeth Line sprint at Tottenham Court Road is quite enjoyable once you get used to it!”
The TikTok post included other lighthearted clips, like Kate playfully insisting that William wear his mask during COVID-19 and him encouraging their daughter, Princess Charlotte, to push him on a swing.
Viewers couldn’t help but laugh at the initial clip, with one commenter noting, “Why is the first clip so funny HAHAHAHA,” while another said, “LOL the way William looks over at Catherine to laugh at the train guy 😆 they’re so confused.”
At the time, Kate and William were just days away from King Charles III’s coronation. When asked about it during their ride, Kate mentioned, “Yes, it’s going to be a busy time. We’re getting there. I still feel like we’re trying to get ducks in a row.”