Estonians turned out in their hundreds for a chance to see Prince William in the Capital city of Tallinn today - one woman even travelled from Latvia for a chance to glimpse the royal.
Many waited for hours in the freezing cold to shake hands with His Royal Highness, who greeted a Welsh Corgi (a dog breed Queen Elizabeth II famously loved), a King Charles Spaniel, several babies, and hundreds of other well-wishers.
Otto, a school pupil at Estonia's Gustav Adolf Grammar School, took a photograph with the Prince and told me: "[Prince William's visit] is very important to us...he is the future King...it is very important to maintain and make those connections because Estonia is a small country and we need to communicate with other leaders and keep our independence."
When the Prince of Wales's upcoming trip was announced last week, I understand a number of people contacted the British Embassy in Estonia to ask when and where they could see him.
Estonians turned out in their hundreds for a chance to see Prince William
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Locals told me that television channels in Estonia broadcast hours of live programming for the King and Queen's Coronation in May 2023 with large numbers tuning in.
Sure, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has visited the country a few times, but he has never received the reception Prince William did today. So why is there so much interest in a foreign Prince who will one day rule as King?
It could have something to do with the long affinity Britain has with the Baltic nation, dating back to the end of World War One.
British troops fought alongside Estonians between 1918 and 1920 to help the country gain independence from the newly established Soviet Army and the Germans.
Prince William took selfies with the crowds of royal fansReutersThe country kept its independence until the start of World War Two when the population fell by a third due to both Nazi and Soviet influence.
After the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, there was an explosion of interest in British culture; even iconic sitcoms like 'Keeping Up Appearances' became popular here.
Estonians also have a strong interest in the Premier League and British music.
Prince William is soft power personified; the reaction of ordinary citizens to his arrival shows how much he can do to strengthen relations between the UK and Estonia - a thriving "tech-savvy" country which could help reduce our overreliance on Chinese technology in the future.
Prince William dropped a mysterious item at one point on the groundPALATEST ROYAL NEWS:
Prince William greeting an adorable dog during the royal walkaboutPAThis trip has been six months in the making, and the UK Government is using the Prince as a "global statesman" to strengthen relations with a European nation.
This week, of course, the trip took on a whole new meaning.
Estonian ministers are echoing calls from President Trump for NATO countries to increase defence spending as the Russian offensive in Ukraine continues.
