The man who brewed Prince Philip his early morning cuppa during the war was meeting him again today (Friday) in Basildon.

William Freeman, 74, first met the Duke of Edinburgh when they were stationed together on the same Navy destroyer during the Second World War.

But today would be the second time Mr Freeman met the Duke since the war, because they last spoke when he visited the New Town about 18 years ago.

Despite meeting royalty more than most, Mr Freeman was keeping a level head.

He said: "I feel pretty good. When you meet up with them, you find out how genuine they are. Anything we did on board, he did on board too."

The first time Mr Freeman, of Basildon, met the Duke was in 1943 on HMS Whelp in the Far East.

Able Seaman Freeman, then 18 years old, was detailed to be the Duke's servant when he was known as Prince Philip of Greece and Denmark.

He said: "HMS Whelp was a destroyer and there were only about 100 on board. It was a big family.

"I used to call him in the morning and give him a cup of tea."

He also shared the same terrible memories with the Duke, also seeing prisoners of war being released at the end of the war.

Mr Freeman said: "It was horrible. We took prisoners out of Tokyo bay and transferred them to the hospital ship because it couldn't go there."

After the war, Mr Freeman took a job at the Shell refinery at Coryton. Then in the 1970s, he met the Duke again in Town Square as he toured Basildon.

Mr Freeman said: "He recognised me straight away. "He asked how I was and if I had a family."

Now he is looking forward to seeing the Duke again after so many years.

Royal meeting - William Freeman hopes to meet the Duke again

Picture: STEVE O'CONNELL

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