A BIG Issue vendor says he was delighted to see Prince William outselling him — because his card payment reader was used by the royal.
Wills, 39, shifted “piles” of the magazine — which helps homeless people — with insiders saying it may be a record.
Veteran vendor Dave Martin, 60, who joined him on the streets, told The Celeb Report: “William sold more than me. That was to be expected.
“But he was using my card machine so it didn’t matter. So all those sales are recorded as mine anyway. He was a great guy.”
The Duke of Cambridge, sporting a red Big Issue cap and matching vest, hit the streets of Westminster with Dave on Wednesday afternoon — and was soon recognised by stunned passers-by.
One, Richard Hannant, 47, told The Celeb Report he tried to take a covert picture before William marched across the road towards him.
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He added: “I wondered if I was in big trouble. I turned around not knowing what was coming . . . and he was absolutely charming.
“It was very surreal. In a very upbeat and positive manner he asked me, ‘Can I interest you in buying a copy?’ I said, ‘Yes, of course’. But it was a disaster because looking into my wallet I could see I had no cash.
“I showed him my empty wallet, trying not to panic. I said, ‘I’ve no cash!’
“Quick as a flash he whipped out a card machine from his trouser pocket and told me, ‘No problem — not to worry!’ I didn’t ask how much it was, I just tapped my card.”
Richard then walked away in a daze clutching his £3 magazine, and was stopped by another buyer down the road.
He said: “She laughed, ‘Oh he sold you one as well did he?’. They must have gone like hot cakes around Westminster on that day.
“To see William on the streets after the Jubilee supporting the charity was marvellous.
“And there was no choreographed photographs or publicity, just the future king going about his business helping other people. What a guy.”
Cab driver Neil Kramer grabbed a selfie with William after he was approached while charging up his electric vehicle.
He said: “He was engaging, polite and never forgot my name”, adding: “What a lovely surprise on a random Wednesday and after the Jubilee celebrations.”
Another passer-by, Laura Michalkevic, also posed for a royal snap and praised him for “caring about ordinary people”.
William shifted all of his copies within an hour — potentially becoming London’s fastest-selling Big Issue vendor.
A source said: “As you would expect, William sold lots of copies. It could be a record-breaking amount per hour.
“He attracted the crowds and managed to monopolise on that by taking their cash in exchange for a magazine.
“He was also able to take card payments so was armed with everything he needed to be a great seller.”
William will appear in an upcoming edition of the Big Issue after being interviewed by Dave, The Celeb Report understands.
A Big Issue vendor for 11 years, he temporarily stopped selling during the pandemic — losing around £125 a week.
But his work as an artist took off during the crisis and he had a professional exhibition. However, he continues to work on the streets as he would “miss the people on my pitch”.
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A worker from a nearby Sainsbury’s Local told The Celeb Report: “We do have quite a few celebs living around here but no one as big as William and they haven’t sold Big Issues before.”
Another said: “He would make a very successful seller. I can’t see him being homeless anytime soon but it is good of him to support homeless people.”
