Prince Harry went back to nature as he met schoolchildren at a conservation project that aims to teach youngsters to value the countryside on Thursday.
The Prince, who looked casual in a grey cashmere jumper and green jeans, paid a visit to the Chatham Green Project at the Wilderness Foundation in Chatham Green, six miles north of Chelmsford, Essex.
He joined pupils as they took part in activities including shelter building and fire lighting as part of a day on the themes of survival and nature connection.
Prince Harry dressed down as he joined schoolchildren to build shelters and light fires in the Essex woods at a conservation project on Thursday
The Chatham Green Project is an education programme which aims to teach more than 3,000 pupils each year to take action to protect the countryside and the wider environment.
Harry, who will celebrate his 33rd birthday on Friday, heard about the work of the Wilderness Foundation and some of its key conservation projects in the UK and abroad.
He also met graduates of the charity’s TurnAround programme, which uses outdoor adventures and intensive mentoring to help young people aged 15 to 21 to overcome family, social and personal problems.
The Prince was in high spirits as he paid a visit to the Chatham Green Project at the Wilderness Foundation in Chatham Green
The Chatham Green Project is an education programme which aims to teach more than 3,000 pupils to protect the countryside and the wider environment and the royal certainly looked enthused to be involved
An average of 83 per cent of TurnAround’s graduates enter further education or employment and sustain this into the future.
It was this week announced that Prince Harry and his girlfriend, Meghan Markle, are expected to make their first official public appearance together at the Invictus Games in Toronto later this month.
Their romance is believed to finally become public at the games on September 23.
The Invictus Games, which feature injured and disabled Servicemen, are Prince Harry’s passion project, and Toronto – the city where Suits is filmed – is Miss Markle’s adopted home.
The Prince was in high spirits as he shared jokes with the schoolchildren in the woods
Afterwards it is thought she may spend more time in London with the Prince, a full-time working Royal.
She is already a regular guest at his bachelor quarters and is on good terms with their neighbours, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.
She and Harry currently stay in Nottingham Cottage, a small two-bedroom house in the palace grounds.
The Suits star has met her prospective in-laws, the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall, and many believe they are ‘as good as engaged’.
Kensington Palace explained that Harry’s work in conservation has been dedicated to educating and engaging young people in conservation issues