Prince William was in Liverpool today for several engagements and stunned train passengers as he travelled to the city on an Avanti West Coast train, delighting them and railway staff by happily chatting away during the journey
Prince William left passengers shocked when he hopped on a train today – and delighted them by chatting to them during the journey.
The Prince of Wales headed to Toxteth in Liverpool for two engagements to shine a light on vital community groups there who are working to support young people in the local community.
Wills, 42, travelled north from London to Liverpool on an Avanti West Coast service and when other passengers and staff boarded the train, they were stunned to see the future King sitting in a first-class carriage. The prince was said to be seen smiling as he happily chatted away to other passengers in the carriage and railway staff and when he got off the train at Liverpool Lime Street Station, he cheerily said hello to those also disembarking.
William walks with other passengers through the station (
Image:
Mirror Exclusive)
William walks with other passengers through the station (
Image:
Mirror Exclusive)
William, dressed casually in a dark green jacket and dark trainers, left the station beaming with other passengers clutching a folder containing his notes.
It seems the prince is a regular on the railways after catching a train back from a conference from Birmingham last week – but not before stopping off at Wetherspoons in the city’s New Street Station where he enjoyed a pint with fellow Aston Villa fans. Meanwhile, last year in a snap shared on social media, William was pictured on a Great Western Railway service from London to Cardiff with his notes out in front of him to head to an engagement in Wales.
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William during a visit to Cycle of Life in Toxteth, Liverpool today (
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PA)And former BBC royal correspondent Jennie Bond believes it’s all part of William’s plan for a more down-to-earth royal approach. She told the Mirror : “For a while now, William has been putting into action the way that he intends to do the job,” Jennie told The Mirror. “And that, as he now made clear, is royal with a small r. You could say that the small ‘r’ also stands for relatable, because that is what he is showing himself to be.
“I think he gets quite a kick out of surprising people – by taking calls in a restaurant, serving people from burger stalls or dropping into a pub to buy a round of drinks. I think William finds it refreshing to be able to interact without all the fuss that generally goes with a royal visit. And I’m sure he also realises that in PR terms, it is extremely effective. It’s important for the Royal Family to be in touch as much as possible with the way ordinary people feel.”
William’s trip to Liverpool today saw him visit two organisations – one called Cycle of Life, which is supported by BBC Children in Need and works to help young people from diverse backgrounds improve their physical and mental health and boost their employment opportunities through cycling.
Wills shares a joke as he watches a group of youngsters fix a bike (
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Getty Images)It was initially set up in 2020 to deliver riding sessions and bicycle maintenance classes as a way to provide equal access to the hobby but has since expanded as a means to improve young people’s confidence, build relationships, and improve their access to the city as a whole.
Afterwards, the prince visited the Tiber Centre to learn about a group of youngsters came together to create a lively hub for the community. There he was mobbed by crowds waiting for selfies owhere he joined a football game in front of sport legend Sir Kenny Dalglish. Locals braved the cold in Toxteth to see William, take photos and shake his hand after he visited two community groups that support young people.
Over 200 young people have been part of the project since it was created in 2005, which puts young people at the heart of the decision-making process, thereby allowing them to influence the look and feel of the development.
