Prince William’s top-secret visit to MI6 – and it’s not the first time

Prince William, the future King of the United Kingdom, has made several secret visits to the country’s intelligence agency, MI6, over the years. These low-profile engagements highlight the close relationship between the royal family and the UK’s security services.

The first known visit William made to MI6 was in 2012, shortly after his marriage to Kate Middleton. The couple toured the agency’s headquarters, gaining insight into the vital work carried out by its operatives. A spokesperson for Kensington Palace at the time noted that “The Royal Family has a long history of supporting the security services, and this visit was in that tradition.”

William and Kate returned to MI6 in 2017, further strengthening the bonds between the monarchy and the intelligence community. A Kensington Palace representative explained that these visits allowed the royals to better understand “the vital contribution they make to our national security.”

But William’s most immersive experience with the UK’s intelligence services came in 2019, when he spent three weeks embedded with MI5, MI6, and GCHQ. This attachment gave the future King a rare glimpse into the day-to-day operations of these agencies, which he described as a “truly humbling experience.”

During his time with the intelligence services, William was able to “comfortably hold his own amongst some highly skilled analysts and operators.” The head of counter-terrorism at GCHQ praised the prince’s probing questions and his demonstrated grasp of the agency’s crucial mission.

William has been vocal about his admiration for the men and women working tirelessly to protect the country. He has acknowledged that those in the intelligence community “work in secret, often not even able to tell their family and friends about the work they do or the stresses they face.” The prince believes the public “owe them deep gratitude for the difficult and dangerous work they do.”

The latest visit, which took place in June 2024 just before the Trooping the Colour celebration, was once again kept under wraps. The Court Circular, the official record of the royal family’s engagements, simply stated that “The Prince of Wales this afternoon visited the Secret Intelligence Service.”

While the specifics of William’s most recent trip to MI6 remain unknown, it is clear that he maintains a strong interest in the work of the UK’s intelligence agencies. These secret visits not only strengthen the royal family’s ties to the security services but also allow William to better understand the challenges and responsibilities he will one day face as King.