Prince William recently made a personal donation using a name many people rarely see. The Prince of Wales quietly supported a veteran’s fundraising effort with a generous contribution. His chosen signature revealed a personal connection to his royal title.
Prince William uses the rarely seen name “William Wales” for a personal $6.7K donation to veteran Dave Bell
According to SportsGiving, William donated £5,000 to Dave “Dinger” Bell from Dorset. Bell completed a solo, unsupported rowing journey across the Pacific and Indian Oceans. The former Royal Marine spent 327 days at sea without touching land.
Bell undertook the extraordinary challenge to raise funds and awareness for Rock2Recovery. The charity supports veterans and emergency service personnel affected by post-traumatic stress disorder. William’s donation recognized Bell’s achievement and the cause behind his journey.
Rather than signing with his formal royal title, William used “William Wales.” He also included a personal message congratulating Bell on the remarkable accomplishment. “An extraordinary achievement,” William wrote in his message.
He continued, “Huge congratulations to Dinger for completing this incredible challenge in support of a brilliant cause.” William concluded the note with “Well done! W.” The message appeared alongside the £5,000 donation dated October 5.
Bell later publicly thanked the royal for his support. “Thank you for all the donations,” Bell said in a video message. He then offered a special thank-you to the Prince of Wales.
William received the title Prince of Wales after Queen Elizabeth II died in 2022. The name “William Wales” reflects that title in a more personal form. It also echoes how members of the royal family use surnames outside formal engagements.
Princess Catherine previously used a similar name when making a charitable donation. In June, she supported an 11-year-old boy raising money for Molly Olly’s Wishes. She signed her message “Catherine Wales” after meeting him during her Three Peaks challenge.
The couple’s children also use Wales as a surname at school. Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis are known by those names among school friends. William and Prince Harry also used Wales while attending school.
William’s signature therefore reflects a familiar royal naming tradition. However, this donation highlighted the name through a personal gesture supporting a veteran. His message celebrated Bell’s endurance while helping bring attention to Rock2Recovery.
