Prince William jokes with fan about ‘diaries’ during London youth centre visit
Prince William shared a light-hearted exchange with a member of the public during a visit to a youth community hub in north London this week, as he met young people involved in creative projects and spoke about the value of face-to-face communication. The Prince of Wales, 43, was visiting the Ubele Initiative in Wood Green, which has featured in BBC Children in Need’s We Move FWD programme.
During the event, The Mirror reported that a supporter asked whether she could visit William at his new “forever home”, Forest Lodge, saying she lives in nearby Windsor, prompting the Prince to quip: “Are you inviting your family to stay? Should we talk diaries and work out timings?”
The on-the-spot remark drew laughter from onlookers, and William continued the exchange by adding it was “not the maddest question” he had been asked before asking where in Windsor the woman lived. The Prince later met teenagers including Jeremiah, 16, and Elijah, 14, who spoke to him about their passion for photography and showed him images displayed as part of an exhibition inside one of Ubele’s greenhouses.
The visit also follows a busy run of engagements for the Prince of Wales, including occasions where his diary has taken him away from potential family meetings as he continues public duties around the UK.
In conversation with young people and community figures, William also addressed the impact of texting and social media on conversation, saying he believes society has “lost the art of debating” and that talking things through is “always the best way” rather than bottling problems up. He urged young people to keep developing their creative skills and confidence as they move forward.
