During their 2016 royal tour of Canada, the Prince and Princess of Wales—then known as the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge—shared one of their most memorable and light-hearted moments at a food and wine festival in British Columbia’s scenic Okanagan Valley. The couple, accompanied by their young children Prince George and Princess Charlotte, attended the “Taste of British Columbia” event at Mission Hill Winery in Kelowna. Amid sampling local wines, curries, and seafood, they encountered the geoduck—a massive saltwater clam native to the Pacific Northwest, famous for its unusually long, protruding siphon that gives it a distinctly phallic appearance.

Prince William, ever the diplomat, first commented on the raw geoduck presented by chef Ned Bell, noting that “presentationally they are quite challenging.” The chef candidly acknowledged the clam’s shape, describing it as “absolutely phallic” but emphasizing its status as a sustainable delicacy from the region’s pristine waters. Geoducks, pronounced “gooey-duck,” are the largest burrowing clams in the world, often weighing several pounds and living over 100 years. Harvested sustainably by divers in British Columbia, they are prized for their sweet, crisp texture, similar to calamari when eaten raw.

Undeterred, William and Kate moved to another station where Japanese chef Hidekazu Tojo had transformed the geoduck into elegant sashimi slices garnished with miso mustard sauce. Breaking from her usual caution about eating in public—to avoid unflattering photos—Kate enthusiastically tried it. She praised the “slightly firmer texture,” calling it “really unusual” and “so fresh from the sea,” admitting she’d never seen anything like it before. William followed suit, pronouncing it delicious and handling the awkward presentation with grace and humor.

This moment highlighted the couple’s approachable nature during the eight-day tour, which focused on youth mental health, indigenous reconciliation, and environmental issues. The geoduck tasting quickly became a media sensation, with British outlets playfully dubbing it the “willy-shaped” clam, sparking giggles among reporters and the public. Royal correspondent Emily Andrews later recalled the pair stifling laughter, capturing the fun side of royal duties.

The incident also shone a spotlight on sustainable seafood. Geoducks are a key export for Canada, primarily to Asia, and the royal endorsement boosted awareness of British Columbia’s well-managed fisheries. Chefs like Ned Bell used the opportunity to promote ocean-friendly eating, noting shellfish like geoduck filter and clean the water.

Beyond the humor, the tour strengthened ties between the monarchy and Canada. William and Kate engaged with First Nations communities, visited the Great Bear Rainforest, and delighted crowds in places like Vancouver and Whitehorse. The geoduck episode remains a standout example of their willingness to embrace local culture, even when it leads to delightfully awkward—and unforgettable—encounters. It humanized the royals, showing that even in the face of a comically shaped delicacy, they could laugh it off and savor the experience.