Prince Charles fist bumps food truck owner in Brixton

The Prince of Wales headed to South London this morning to inspect a new adventure playground being built for young residents in Brixton. 

The future king, 73, who wore a mid-blue pinstripe suit with a silver tie and blue pocket square, examined designs for Dexters Adventure Playground, which is an upcoming project of the BIGKID Foundation. 

The mid-week visit to the London borough also saw Charles shaking hands with a local food truck owner, known as Maureen, as he browsed delicious-looking dishes being cooked up.   

The 73-year-old, dressed in a mid-blue pinstripe suit, examined the designs for the new playground, which is an upcoming project of the BigKid foundation and will help youngsters in the Brixton area

Meeting Maureen, a local food truck owner, the Prince looked keen to sample some of the delicious-looking dishes on display

Still got it! The Prince handles a NFL ball as he plays a spot of catch with volunteers from the foundation

It’s been a busy week for the future king, last night he was across town at the Royal College of Music, honouring some of the country’s leading musicians

This isn’t a rugby ball! Charles talkes a closer look at the playground equipment before holding it aloft

Charles, who attended the public engagement without Camilla – who herself had a busy day of engagements in Manchester yesterday visiting a homelessness charity and the ‘I Am’ domestic abuse photographic exhibition – was shown around by Sir Kenneth Aphunezi Olisa, the first black Lord-Lieutenant of Greater London.

Sir Kenneth, who was given a knighthood in 2018, is a patron of the BigKid foundation, and chaired a meeting between the Prince and young people who have been helped by the charity.  

The Prince also chatted with volunteers from the foundation, which was founded by Shaninga Marasha and works to equip young people at risk of social exclusion and youth violence to take control of their lives and fulfil their potential. 

Charles looked on jovial form as he toured the project, enjoying explanations of dishes made by the Cook Off social enterprise and, at one point, holding a NFL American football. 

Tempting! The pair chatted about the food that Maureen makes and sells from her food truck

The Prince smiles as he looks at some of the dishes being showcased by the Cook Off social enterprise

A hand-shake this time! The future king meets one of the brains behind the Cook Off project

Last night, the heir to the throne honoured some of the countries  top musical talents in a ceremony held by the Royal College of Music (RCM).

The Prince. in his role as president of the RCM, made his annual visit to the London conservatoire where he handed out awards to artists including Grammy-nominated saxophonist Amy Dickson and composer Anna Meredith.

The heir has been president of the London-based college for 20 years, and over the past two decades has presented awards to artists including Alfie Boe and Paul McCartney.  

He also met with students of the RCM’s junior department and young musicians who have been learning instruments through RCM Sparks, the college’s outreach programme, reported PA Media. 

Dexters Adventure Playground will offer young people in the South London community interactive play area

The Prince of Wales then chatted with young people who have been helped by the BigKid programme

All smiles: Charles, who’s preparing for the Jubilee next month, looked on jovial form as he chatted with the youngsters from South London

The Prince of Wales shares a joke with BigKid founder Shaninga Marasha

The meeting was chaired by Sir Kenneth Aphunezi Olisa, the first black Lord-Lieutenant of Greater London, pictured to Prince Charles’ right 

RCM director Professor Colin Lawson said: ‘The president’s visit is always a significant moment in the Royal College of Music’s calendar and this year we honour the contribution made by exceptional musicians from across the world, many of whom are Royal College of Music alumni.

‘To produce world-leading musicians there needs to be better access to high-quality music education for all, and ongoing support for young people as they progress.’

Let’s play! The Prince appeared to get a little more serious as he held the NFL ball in his hand

The charity aims to equip young people at risk of social exclusion and youth violence to take control of their lives and fulfil their potential

Musicians Dickson and Meredith were made fellows of the RCM alongside the founder of the Purcell Quartet Richard Boothby and Thomas Trotter, a resident organist at the Birmingham Symphony Hall and a recent recipient of the Queen’s medal for music.

RCM professor and violinist Gabrielle Lester, who has led orchestral recordings of numerous film and TV scores including Harry Potter, Lord Of The Rings and Doctor Who, was also among the cohort who became an RCM fellow during the ceremony.

Prince Charles (pictured centre) paid his annual visit to the Royal College of Music in London today, in his capacity as president 

Charles, (pictured left) in his role as president of the RCM, made his annual visit to the London conservatoire where he handed out awards to artists including Grammy-nominated saxophonist Amy Dickson and composer Anna Meredith (pictured right)

Prince of Wales meets 12-year-old twins Sami and Mehdi, students involved in the Royal College of Music Sparks engagement programme

Following the awards, Charles met with young musicians from the RCM junior department including siblings Imaan and Jamaal Kashim – who play the violin and the harp, respectively.

Imaan, 18, said the programme has been a ‘musical springboard’ for him as he has now been offered a place to study at the RCM from September.

Jamaal, 14, added that his time in the junior department had shown him how ‘differences can be brought together through music to make something unified and very beautiful.’

Prince Charles handing an award to opera singer Faafetai Jonathan Lemalu. The Prince has been president of the London-based college for 20 years, and over the past two decades has presented awards to artists including Alfie Boe and Paul McCartney

The siblings were also part of a musical performance delivered by RCM students for the prince.

Charles also met 12-year-old twins Sami and Mehdi Uwahemu, who have been engaged with RCM Sparks since 2016, with both going on to receive a place in the RCM junior department.

Their mother Fouzia Radi said: ‘I am grateful to the Royal College of Music for giving both my boys the opportunity to learn how to play an instrument with amazing teachers.

‘They enjoy music a great deal and thanks to this opportunity, they have been given the chance to get into a good local secondary school with a specialism in music. It gives me great pleasure to see them both flourish.’

The RCM, which was established in 1883, was recently ranked as the world’s leading institution for performing arts in the 2022 QS World University Rankings by subject.

This is the first time the London conservatoire has taken the top spot, overtaking The Juilliard School in New York which has held the position since 2016, when this categorisation was first introduced.