Taxi drivers pick up people from all walks of life – but the future King of England topped the passenger list for one High Wycombe firm eight years ago.

Neales Taxis received a routine call to pick up a group in Hyde End which was heading to a wedding near Watlington in Oxfordshire, on May 11, 2013.

But the driver, Hasnain Tariq, 27 at the time, was in for a bit of surprise when the Duke of Cambridge climbed into the back of the mini-bus.

He said at the time: “I didn’t really see him until got out – I happened to look as the last guy got out and Prince William said ‘hello, are you alright?’

“I didn’t know what to do, I couldn’t believe it, I was totally gobsmacked. We’ve had a few celebs in the cars as a company but I’ve never had anyone like that in my taxi before so this is definitely at the top of my list and gives me a story to tell my passengers in the future.”

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He told the BFP the group stopped off at the Spar in Great Kingshill for a while, adding: “I told my boss and other drivers, as we took quite a few people as a firm, when we arrived at the venue – I guess I was the lucky one.”

Izy Rashid, manager of Neales in Castle Street, added at the time: “It was a bit of a shock. We’ve had lots of celebrities in our cabs – from the Gallagher brothers to Tom Hanks – but never royalty, so this one definitely tops the lot.”

The cab returned to pick up the group following the party – but Prince William was whisked away in a Bentley shortly after the Duchess of Cambridge left in a Range Rover.

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