- William, 43, was in high spirits as he arrived at a garden centre in North London
- READ MORE: Kate's surprising royal family connection - long before she ever met Prince William
Prince William has complained that people are losing the ‘art of debating’ because all they do now is ‘send a quick text’.
The Prince of Wales, who admitted recently that he refuses to let his three children even have mobile phones, bemoaned modern methods of communication, saying: ‘Everyone just wants to send a quick message on social media or a quick text and it’s just fired off and usually you read it incorrectly or it’s got different connotations in it.’
He added: ‘We have lost the art of debating.’
It comes after his wife, the Princess of Wales, co-wrote an essay about the pernicious effect mobile phones have on family life, discouraging parents and children from sitting down and properly communicating with each other.
The heir to the throne was speaking today to a youth group funded by BBC Children in Need.
He met three youth clubs funded by Children in Need’s We Move FWD at The Ubele Initiative, a social enterprise hub in North London.
We Move FWD is a 10-year commitment by the charity – also in collaboration with BBC Radio 1Xtra – that creates opportunities for children and young people of ethnic minorities across the UK.
The Prince spoke of the importance of remembering that ‘not everyone thinks like you’, adding: ‘We are only a community if we listen to everyone.
Prince William potted plants alongside English rapper Big Zuu to promote a youth empowerment programme in London today
‘For me, it’s all about a message. If we’re not talking about something, there’s no message, and we need to be able to hear each other and listen to each other.’
The Prince was greeted by Thurrock African Group and the radio presenter, Richie Brave, who spoke about their community radio and podcast projects for young people.
‘You think you know how everyone lives, but you don’t. All of us think and feel and experience different things in different ways and I find it very interesting hearing other people’s take on the same thing,’ he told them.
William added: ‘I always find that fascinating because it kind of reminds me… it puts you back in your box… you’re like "hang on a second, not everyone thinks like you", it’s really important.’
He was also joined by gardeners from the youth group Humber All Nations Alliance, where they discussed the importance of being outdoors.
The Prince, casually dressed in a shirt, jacket and jumper, was impressed when the young people said they enjoy playing sport, adding: ‘It’s usually TV, phones or social media.’
He met with the rapper, presenter and singer Big Zuu and with master grower at Black Rootz, Paulette Henry, and also tasted a ‘salt bush’ leaf. Black Rootz is the first multigenerational growing project in the UK.
Ms Henry invited him to plant a perennial, which the Prince potted without using gardening gloves.
The Prince of Wales met three youth clubs funded by Children in Need’s We Move FWD at The Ubele Initiative, a social enterprise hub in North London
He is pictured here with Yvonne Field (centre) and Sarah Ebanja (left) from The Ubele Initiative
During the visit, The Prince gave Ms Field (pictured), the chief executive of Ubele, a new female kiwi plant to accompany her male one
The prince was all smiles as he posed for selfies during today's engagement
The prince appeared in good spirits as he carried out a solo engagement this morning
He met with the rapper and presenter singer, Big Zuu (centre) and Paulette Henry (left), master grower at Black Rootz, and he tasted a ‘salt bush’ leaf. Black Rootz is the first multigenerational growing project in the UK
The Prince was also shown a photography project by Elijah, 14, and Jeremiah, 16, from the Society for the Advancement of Black Arts, a London-based charity that supports the development of Black art forms.
Elijah said: ‘It was crazy!’ adding: ‘When he came in I was like, "Wow, that’s the Prince!’’.'
He remarked that ‘the future king coming to see us’ does not happen every day.
‘We had a connection with him… it was definitely a memorable experience,’ said Jeremiah.
William also met Christina Oredeko, 32, the programme lead for Young Immersion Leaders who said: 'My family live in Windsor.’ The comment received a big laugh from the crowd as Prince William replied: ‘Are you inviting your family over to stay?’
‘It’s not the maddest question I’ve ever been asked!’, He added.
The Prince asked Ms Oredeko: ‘Whereabouts in Windsor do they live?’, To which someone replied: ‘Do you know [discount retail store] B&M?’, Which prompted more laughter from onlookers.
Based at the Wolves Lane Centre in Wood Green, the Ubele site includes greenhouses and gardens that cultivate African and Caribbean produce, as well as spaces for cultural activities.
The Prince gave Yvonne Field, the chief executive of Ubele, a new female kiwi plant to accompany her male one.
Perfectly in step! The prince is photographed here in conversation with Alex Holmes (left), director at BBC Children in Need
He was also joined by gardeners from the youth group Humber All Nations Alliance, where they discussed the importance of being outdoors
Ms Henry (left) invited him to plant a perennial, which the Prince potted without using gardening gloves
Ms Henry was representing Black Rootz as she gave the future King a quick lesson in gardening
After concern that it might not grow, he added: ‘It will be the most resilient kiwi around here!’
BBC Children in Need has invested over £4m in more than 60 ethnic minority-led youth projects.
Alex Holmes OBE, Director of We Move FWD at BBC Children in Need said: ‘When young people have somewhere to go, something to do and someone who believes in them, they thrive.
‘We’ve seen extraordinary youth-led social action through the projects we fund, young people shaping change in their communities right now. As we launch the We Move FWD Academy, we want to work with brands and employers to create practical routes into opportunity, so ambition can become a future.’
It comes after William carried out a series of engagements in Bristol last week.
Prince William tested out a futuristic mobility scooter at a robotics laboratory and met finalists of his Earthshot Prize during the visit to showcase Bristol's achievements in sustainability and role as a 'driving force for innovation in the UK'.
The future king visited The Bristol Robotics Laboratory, where he tested out a lightweight mobility scooter being worked on by a start-up to develop how robotic technology can transform scooter design and safety.
William learned how technologies are being developed to help the ageing and disabled population maintain physical and mental wellbeing at home.
Earlier in the day, he met Earthshot Prize finalists who developed an innovative filtration technology system – which the royal installed at his offices and homes.
The Prince put in the £199 Matter unit, designed to stop microplastics entering waterways and oceans, at both Kensington Palace and Anmer Hall.
William founded the Earthshot Prize environmental award in 2020, which has a winning prize of £1million, and Matter was a finalist in last year's competition.
Their system can be fitted to washing machines and William wants them introduced across the royal households.
William and Big Zuu, real name Zuhair Hassan, shared a laugh after they were introduced
He spoke to Matter's chief executive Adam Root this afternoon about the company's plans to go global with their product and took part in a hands-on demonstration.
The Prince looked inquisitive and interested as staff explained the technology, before joining a discussion with brand partners about the system and its scalability.
The Prince was also shown Britain's most powerful supercomputer, which is being used to develop new drugs to combat heart disease, Alzheimer's and cancer.
With a new year underway, both the Prince and Princess of Wales have returned to work with a renewed sense of purpose.
The Princess carried out a series of engagements in Wakefield and Bradford that were designed to showcase the healing power of community.
During her visit to the Peak District, where Kate joined a wellbeing walk organised by a mental health charity, she also debuted a new fuss-free hairstyle.
After starting off the engagement with her locks down in waves, Kate, 44, later gathered her bronde hair into a neat plait, as she chatted with members of the public and posed for selfies.
The sporty look served her well into the next outing, which was a mindfulness walk in the Peak District.
