Prince William put his wife Kate’s Mother’s Day photo fiasco to one side today as he played basketball with children and celebrated successfully shooting hoops while opening a youth charity facility in London.
The Prince of Wales – who also played some pool and decorated biscuits in a training kitchen – met a group of young people this morning at the new OnSide Youth Zone in Hammersmith and Fulham, which is called West (‘Where Everyone Sticks Together’).
He was escorted by Kevin McGrath, Deputy Lieutenant for the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham who represents the monarch at official events in the area.
Later, William and his estranged brother Prince Harry will both separately take part in a ceremony paying tribute to their late mother at the Diana Legacy Award.
William will attend the event at the Science Museum in London in person, where he is set to give a speech to mark the charity’s 25th anniversary and present awards.
Harry, 39, will then join a video call with the 20 winners – although it is understood that his involvement will only take place after William, 41, has left the ceremony.
Other royals on engagements today included Prince Edward and Sophie who attended the All England Open Badminton Championships in Birmingham.
It comes as William and Kate continue to face intense scrutiny after the Princess publicly apologised and confessed to digitally editing a family portrait taken by her husband and released by Kensington Palace to mark Mother’s Day last Sunday.
Prince William concentrates as he goes to throw a basketball watched by young people during his visit to West, the new OnSide Youth Zone in Hammersmith and Fulham in London today
The Prince of Wales throws the basketball during his visit to West in White City this morning
William celebrates with young people after he threw the basketball at West in London today
Prince William plays a game of pool during his visit to the West site in White City this morning
Prince William is seen decorating biscuits alongside young people at West in White City today
Prince William arrives and is escorted by Kevin McGranth, the Deputy Lord Lieutenant, for his visit to visit West, the new OnSide Youth Zone in Hammersmith and Fulham in London today
William speaks to young people at the OnSide Youth Zone in Hammersmith and Fulham today
William gestures as he speaks with young people during his visit to West in White City today
William smiles during today’s visit to the new OnSide Youth Zone in Hammersmith and Fulham
Prince William gestures during his visit to the new OnSide Youth Zone in West London today
On Monday, Kate publicly took the blame for the manipulated family photograph released by Kensington Palace as she issued a personal apology for the ‘confusion’.
Kate said sorry with a statement on social media which read: ‘Like many amateur photographers, I do occasionally experiment with editing.
‘I wanted to express my apologies for any confusion the family photograph we shared yesterday caused. I hope everyone celebrating had a very happy Mother’s Day. C.’
The photograph of Kate and her children, taken by William, was the first to be issued since the princess’s abdominal surgery and was released by the Palace to mark Mother’s Day.
It was issued in part to quell conspiracy theories about Kate, who had not been seen at a royal event since Christmas Day or after her surgery.
But it was withdrawn with a ‘Kill’ notice by international picture agencies hours later, and the UK’s PA news agency on Monday, because of suspicions it had been manipulated.
The saga intensified speculation concerning Kate, her health and her whereabouts, and raised questions over whether images released by Kensington Palace could be trusted.
Royal sources said the Princess made ‘minor adjustments’ and that Kate and the William wanted to offer an informal picture of the family together for Mother’s Day.
William speaks to young people at the OnSide Youth Zone in Hammersmith and Fulham today
Prince William is seen decorating biscuits alongside young people at West in White City today
William celebrates with young people after he threw the basketball at West in London today
Prince William plays a game of pool during his visit to the West site in White City this morning
Prince William gestures as he interacts with young people during his visit to West this morning
William smiles during today’s visit to the new OnSide Youth Zone in Hammersmith and Fulham
The Prince of Wales arrives at the new OnSide Youth Zone in Hammersmith and Fulham today
William listens to young people speak during his visit to the new West site in White City today
William speaks to young people at the OnSide Youth Zone in Hammersmith and Fulham today
Prince William gestures during his visit to the new OnSide Youth Zone in West London today
Prince William plays a game of pool during his visit to the West site in White City this morning
On Sunday, Kensington Palace released the first picture of the Princess of Wales since surgery
Prince William and Kate were spotted leaving Windsor together by car on Monday afternoon
Kate was later spotted leaving Windsor in a car with William as he was driven to the Commonwealth Day service. The princess was not attending the service, but was understood to have a private appointment.
Despite calls for the original to be published, Kensington Palace said it would not be reissuing the unedited photograph of Kate and her children.
The Palace has faced growing pressure over the debacle with the controversy branded damaging to the public’s trust of the royal family .
Concerns were raised over a missing part of Princess Charlotte ‘s sleeve and the misaligned edge of her skirt, with other speculation including the positioning of Kate’s zip.
The picture was released to reassure the public amid escalating conspiracy theories online over the state of Kate’s health in recent weeks, but in an extraordinary turn of events sparked what is being dubbed ‘Kategate’ and even ‘Sleevegate’.
William and Kate have an established track record of issuing their own photographs, often taken by Kate rather than William, to mark special occasions including their children’s birthdays.
Other royals out today included Prince Edward, at Birmingham’s All England Open Badminton Championships. He is pictured holding a racket after it had been on a stringing machine
Edward and Sophie at the All England Open Badminton Championships in Birmingham today
Sophie attends the All England Open Badminton Championships with Prince Edward today
Prince Edward laughs at the All England Open Badminton Championships in Birmingham today
But the Princess’s confession has raised questions over whether – or to what extent – the images have been altered in the past.
Sky News said an examination of the photo’s meta data revealed it was saved in Adobe Photoshop twice on an Apple Mac on Friday and Saturday and the picture was taken on a Canon Camera.
Under the licensing agreement issued to photo agencies for use of official royal photos, Royal Households usually stipulate: ‘This image must not be digitally enhanced, cropped, manipulated or modified in any manner or form.’
Kate had surgery at the London Clinic on January 16, but details of her condition have been kept private, and she is not expected to return to official duties until after Easter .
While the fallout from the picture continued, William was back on royal duties today as he arrived in White City at 11am to visit West, the new purpose-built youth facility that will soon be available to young people in the area.
Kensington Palace said the site, which was given its name by local young people, will be staffed by youth workers who will ‘support young people from across West London to develop the skills and confidence they need to achieve their dreams’.
In May 2021, Prince William and Kate visited OnSide’s Wolverhampton Youth Zone, ‘The Way’
Kate tries archery on a visit to OnSide’s Wolverhampton Youth Zone, ‘The Way’, in May 2021
The West Youth Zone, which is a newly formed local independent charity, has facilities including a sports hall, fitness suite, indoor climbing wall, teaching kitchen and a performing arts studio.
There will also be a café which will serve hot meals costing no more than £1.
It is also part of an education hub known as EdCity, which was developed by education charity Ark alongside Hammersmith and Fulham Council.
This centre will also include a new school, nursery, adult education centre and affordable housing.
West has been developed by OnSide, which the Palace described as a ‘national youth centre charity whose mission is to empower young people to lead positive, fulfilling lives by providing access to state-of-the-art spaces and exceptional, life-changing youth work in areas where they are needed the most’.
There are 14 Youth Zones in the UK OnSide network including in Bolton, Manchester, Wigan and across London – with seven more set to open over the next two years in areas such as Bristol, Grimsby, Preston and Essex.
In 2021, the then Duke and Duchess of Cambridge visited OnSide’s Wolverhampton Youth Zone, ‘The Way’.
Queen Camilla and Prince William attend the annual Commonwealth Day Service on Monday
During today’s visit, William spent time speaking to pupils from Ark White City primary school and West’ Young People’s Development Group who were involved in shaping the design and facilities in the new centre.
He toured the Youth Zone, meeting young people using the four-court indoor sports hall before seeing a teaching kitchen.
William also celebrated the launch of the Youth Zone with a plaque unveiling it ahead of its official opening next month on April 21, when it will be available seven days a week.
Later, Harry and William will both separately take part in the Diana Legacy Award ceremony.
It comes as the royal brothers have continued to distance themselves from each other in recent months.
The pair did not meet when Harry spent time with the King at Clarence House following news of his cancer diagnosis last month.
In an interview with ABC’s Good Morning America, Harry said ‘I love my family’ and that he was ‘grateful’ to be able to spend around 45 minutes with Charles when he flew back to the UK.
Harry published his controversial memoir Spare last year, in which he accused William of pushing him into a dog bowl in a row over Meghan Markle.
It was also claimed William teased Harry about his panic attacks.
The King laughs during an audience with Baroness Scotland at Buckingham Palace yesterday
King Charles III is pictured waving to cheering royal fans from his car in London yesterday
Further tensions between the royal brothers can be traced back to the early period of Harry’s relationship with wife Meghan, when his then fiancee had a falling out with the Princess of Wales in the run-up to their wedding.
The Diana Award was set up to promote the Princess’s belief that young people have the power to change the world for the better.
Both William and Harry presented the inaugural legacy awards at St James’ Palace in 2017.
Dr Tessy Ojo, chief executive of The Diana Award, told The Times: ‘It’s a privilege to have the support of both the Prince of Wales and the Duke of Sussex – particularly as we mark our 25th anniversary year.’
A spokesman for the award also told The Telegraph that Harry will be a ‘key part’ of the celebration.
‘He is scheduled to speak with the award recipients, virtually, on the evening of the awards to celebrate their accomplishments,’ he said.
Yesterday, the King appeared full of cheer during an audience with Baroness Scotland at Buckingham Palace.
Charles, who has met the Commonwealth secretary-general on many occasions, welcomed his guest to the Private Audience Room for the in-person meeting.
Harry and William at the unveiling of a Princess Diana statue at Kensington Palace in July 2021
William and Harry together after Diana’s funeral at Westminster Abbey in September 1997
Kate posted an apology on the Prince and Princess of Wales’ Instagram account on Monday
The 75-year-old monarch, who is undergoing treatment for cancer, is continuing with his head of state duties including face-to-face audiences despite not carrying out official engagements in public.
He was photographed chuckling and giving a wide smile as he shook Baroness Scotland’s hand.
The King is Head of the Commonwealth but this week missed the annual Commonwealth Day service at Westminster Abbey, although his pre-recorded video message was played to the congregation.
Queen Camilla and William attended the service along with other royals including Princess Anne.
Also yesterday, Camilla spent a day at the races as she attended the Cheltenham Festival.
Anne was also among the royal party as were Zara and Mike Tindall, Princess Eugenie and husband Jack Brooksbank, and Camilla’s friend and official Queen’s Companion, Lady Sarah Keswick.
Spotted in the parade ring before the start of a race was former army officer Mark Dyer, who acted as Harry’s mentor, playing the role of a supportive big brother figure for him after the death of Diana.
