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By James Crawford-Smith
Royal Reporter
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Prince William paid a secret visit to Britain's top government spy agency on Thursday as he continues to take on a more senior role within the British monarchy.
The previously unannounced engagement was revealed in the court circular (the published record of official royal events and meetings), stating simply that: "The Prince of Wales this afternoon visited the Secret Intelligence Service."
No location for the visit was included and Kensington Palace has not disclosed any details about its purpose or timing.
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Newsweek approached Kensington Palace via email for comment.
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The Secret Intelligence Service is commonly known as MI6, and is tasked with collecting British foreign intelligence around the world. In pop culture it is the agency which the fictional spy James Bond is deployed through, and the identities of its employees are strictly protected as a matter of national security.
This is not the first time William has visited MI6. In 2019 he spent time with the service during a three-week learning exercise about Britain's intelligence community.
On the purpose of the prince's latest visit, royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams told Newsweek it formed part of the monarchy's longstanding support for British intelligence and his own apprenticeship as future king.
"Prince William's visit to the Secret Intelligence Service, which was not publicized in advance, has followed the three weeks he spent in 2019 working with the intelligence services, a visit in 2022 on the eve of the Russian invasion of Ukraine and another with the Princess of Wales in 2012," he said.
"It is part of his apprenticeship before becoming king and also a recognition of the importance of the security services as the world becomes more dangerous."
He noted that it is not known whether the prince met with Sir Richard Moore, MI6's chief during his visit. Moore is the latest to hold the senior position, which is known by the codename "C."
"Visits like that of Prince William are a reminder that the service exists to help keep us safe and that the monarchy values its work," Fitzwilliams said.
The monarchy's ties to Britain's intelligence services were highlighted again this week when it was announced on Thursday that King Charles III had appointed the former director general of the Security Service (commonly known as MI5), Baroness Elizabeth Manningham-Buller, to be the new Chancellor of the Order of the Garter.
MI5 is the sister service to MI6, and focuses on domestic counter-intelligence collection and security in Britain.
Manningham-Buller headed up the service from 2002 to 2007. Her new appointment is one made personally by the monarch. The Order of the Garter is the oldest and most senior order of chivalry in England, and chancellor is one of the highest-ranking titles within it. She is the first woman to be appointed to the position in its 549-year history.
James Crawford-Smith is Newsweek*'s royal reporter, based in London. You can find him on X (formerly Twitter) at @jrcrawfordsmith and read his stories on* Newsweek*'s The Royals Facebook page.*
Do you have a question about Charles and Camilla, William and Princess Kate, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry, or their family that you would like our experienced royal correspondents to answer? Email royals@newsweek.com. We'd love to hear from you.
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