Prince William spent Wednesday potting plants alongside English rapper Big Zuu in London, highlighting a youth empowerment program. The unexpected pairing underscored the Prince of Wales’ commitment to supporting opportunities for young people in the UK.
A Royal Green Thumb and a Rapper’s Reach
The Prince of Wales, 43, joined forces with musician Big Zuu to promote BBC Children in Need’s We Move FWD program, demonstrating a unique approach to community engagement.
- Prince William participated in a hands-on gardening activity with young people supported by the We Move FWD program.
- The program, a collaboration between BBC Children in Need and BBC Radio 1Xtra, focuses on creating opportunities for Black children and youth in the UK.
- The Prince’s engagement followed a visit by the Princess of Wales to highlight the power of community and nature in mental wellbeing.
William visited a garden centre in Wood Green, north London, where he learned about the BBC Children in Need’s We Move FWD programme. He appeared in good spirits during the solo engagement, following his wife Kate’s visit to the north of England to emphasize the importance of creativity, community, and nature for those facing trauma, isolation, and mental health challenges.
The prince, known for embracing a more relaxed style in recent years, was sharply dressed in a navy sport coat paired with a green jumper. After greeting officials from BBC Children in Need and the Ubele Initiative at the Wolves Lane Centre, he was introduced to Zuhair Hassan, known professionally as Big Zuu.
Big Zuu, the BAFTA-winning star of the cooking series Big Zuu’s Big Eats, and William were photographed laughing together before working side-by-side, potting saplings. The engagement provided an opportunity for the Prince to connect with the young people benefiting from the We Move FWD program.
The 10-year program, executed in collaboration with BBC Radio 1Xtra, is designed to create opportunities for Black children and young people across the UK.
Prince William potted plants alongside English rapper Black Zuu to promote a youth empowerment programme in London today
This engagement follows a series of visits by Prince William to Bristol last week, where he tested a futuristic mobility scooter at a robotics laboratory and met finalists of his Earthshot Prize, showcasing the city’s innovation in sustainability.
During the Bristol visit, the future king explored The Bristol Robotics Laboratory, testing a lightweight mobility scooter developed by a start-up focused on improving scooter design and safety through robotics. He learned about technologies aimed at enhancing the wellbeing of the aging and disabled populations.
Earlier that day, William met with Earthshot Prize finalists who created an innovative filtration technology system, which he has since installed at both Kensington Palace and Anmer Hall. The £199 Matter unit is designed to prevent microplastics from entering waterways and oceans.
William founded the Earthshot Prize in 2020, offering a £1 million prize to environmental innovators. Matter was a finalist in last year’s competition, and William intends to introduce their system across all 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
William discussed Matter’s plans for global expansion with CEO Adam Root and participated in a demonstration of the technology. He also viewed Britain’s most powerful supercomputer, used for developing new treatments for heart disease, Alzheimer’s, and cancer.
As the new year progresses, both Prince William and Princess Kate have demonstrated a renewed commitment to their public duties. The Princess of Wales recently completed engagements in Wakefield and Bradford, highlighting the restorative power of community initiatives.
During a visit to the Peak District, Kate debuted a new, practical hairstyle while participating in a wellbeing walk organized by a mental health charity. She transitioned from loose waves to a neat plait as she interacted with the public and posed for photos.
Worth a look
