Prince William potted plants alongside English rapper Black Zuu to promote a youth empowerment programme in London today. 

The Prince of Wales, 43, visited a garden centre in north London, where he learned about the BBC Children in Need’s We Move FWD programme at a garden centre in Wood Green, north London. 

William appeared in high spirits while carrying out the solo engagement, one day after his wife, Kate, visited the north of England to highlight the power of creativity, community and nature for those who have experienced trauma, isolation and poor mental health. 

The prince, who has embraced a ‘rugged’ look in recent years, was dapper in a navy sport coat, which he paired with a green jumper. 

 After warmly greeting senior officials at BBC Children in Need and the Ubele Initiative at the Wolves Lane Centre, William was introduced to the BAFTA-winning TV star Big Zuu (real name Zuhair Hassan) while being shown around the greenhouses. 

Big Zuu, who is best known for his cooking series Big Zuu’s Big Eats, and William were photographed laughing together before rolling up their sleeves and potting saplings. 

During today’s engagement, Prince William met the young people supported by BBC Children in Need’s We Move FWD programme. 

The 10-year programme is executed in collaboration with BBC Radio 1Xtra and creates opportunities for Black children and youngsters living in the UK. 

Prince William potted plants alongside English rapper Black Zuu to promote a youth empowerment programme in London today

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.

During his visit to the garden centre in north London on Wednesday, William met representatives from different organisations that promote the wellbeing of Black minority communties in the UK 

He is seen here with young people from the Humber All Nations Alliance that operates in Hull and the Humber. The future King tried his hand at gardening alongside popular British rapper Big Zuu 

William and Big Zuu, real name Zuhair Hassan, shared a laugh after they were introduced 

Earlier in the day, he warmly greeted senior officials at the Ubele Initiative

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.