Prince William was labelled as “chill” by a group of young people he met from Hull during a laid-back morning of gardening at a London community project last week.
On January 28, Prince William visited the Ubele Initiative in Wood Green, where he met members of the Humber All Nations Alliance (Hana) as part of BBC Children in Need’s We Move FWD programme.
Four girls aged between 12 and 14, Seyi, Desiree, Jemima and Imisi, welcomed the future King to one of the initiative’s greenhouses, where they demonstrated their potting activities.
Despite initial nerves among the young gardeners, the atmosphere quickly became relaxed as Prince William got his hands dirty alongside them.
The teenagers described the heir to the throne as surprisingly down-to-earth. Desiree, 14, said: “I was taken aback as I didn’t expect him to be that chill in person. I expected him to be quite serious but he’s a human being at the end of the day.”
Jemima, 14, was particularly impressed by his hands-on approach. “The best part of meeting him was the planting because he didn’t wear any gloves, he just went straight into it and was passionate about it,” she said.
The youngest participant, 12-year-old Imisi, admitted feeling anxious beforehand but found the prince to be “really chill, cool and calm” once he arrived.
Seyi, 13, remarked: “It was really nice to bond because he was a very nice person. I even forgot he was part of the Royal Family.”
Hana is an organisation based in Hull that supports black, Asian and minority ethnic communities through a range of services including a food bank, advice provision and a breakfast club.
The group operates an allotment located at the junction of Inglemire Lane and Marton Grove, where young people learn to cultivate flowers and vegetables.
Produce grown at the site is distributed weekly to those in need within the community.
Desiree explained why the project matters to her, noting that it teaches young people about the advantages of growing their own food.
She added that speaking with Prince William about their work “gives us a voice and makes us feel worthy and what we say stands a chance”.
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Taiye Fatoki, who manages the Hana project and is father to Jemima and Imisi, said the royal visit held great significance for everyone involved as it demonstrated that their efforts were valued.
During the session, Prince William enquired about the young people’s activities and their aspirations for the future.
Mr Fatoki explained that the allotment serves an educational purpose, helping children understand climate change while fostering social inclusion among different nationalities.
The visit concluded with a royal promise, Prince William said he would bring home the three-cornered leek he had potted as a gift for King Charles III.
Imisi summed up the morning simply: “The experience was lovely.”
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