Prince William left open-mouthed by presence of guest: 'You shouldn't be here'

Prince William, 44, was left confused and amazed on Wednesday when he met a 29-year-old investment banker, one of the alumni of The Amos Bursary. The royal was at an official engagement organised during Black Enterprise Week at Urban MBA in East London, a co-working space which supports marginalised young shows through education and mentoring. When Joseph Simeon, a New York-based investment banker, explained he had a special milestone the next day, the Prince couldn't believe it. 

Joseph agreed to come to the event to speak to William because he feels so passionately about the project, even though he is getting married tomorrow. "Tomorrow? You shouldn’t be here! There are other conversations you should be having. Shouldn’t you be preparing your speech?" the totally bewildered royal exclaimed.

© Getty Images

Joseph told reporters afterwards that the scheme meant a lot to him. "We are all very grateful for the support it has given us and for the prince being here today. The Amos Bursary has been transformative to my life," he said. "I am now a mentor myself and will take any opportunity to spread the word."

William also had the chance to speak to others, what he called "high achievers," such as an Oxford graduate and a trainee barrister, who have all used the bursary in the past. 

Xavier Hamilton, 34, one of the first young people helped by The Amos Bursary back in 2009, spoke about William's visit: "It’s phenomenal he was here. It’s a future king and privately he said he wanted to continue to help and support us. It’s amazing to hear."

William's selfie lesson

Engaging with inspirational stories and being at ease greeting lots of people is something William excels at, but it turns out that his selfie-taking skills require a bit of work. On Tuesday, the royal agreed to take a photograph with an onlooker during a "Cricket on the Mall" event hosted for his Earthshot Prize.

© Samir Hussein/WireImage

The excitable fan took a hands-on approach by reaching out and physically adjusting the Prince's arm upwards as he held her phone, to ensure they captured a better photo angle. William took the gentle correction in his stride, continuing to smile for the snap.

This lighthearted moment highlights how royal protocol surrounding walkabouts has relaxed in recent years, evolving from distant waves to hugs, video calls, and selfies. We're sure William will now practice his newfound angle in future photos!