Did you spot Prince Harry on his jog around London?

26 Jan 2017

Content Managing Editor

Prince Harry left passers-by slack-jawed as he went for a run in north London on Thursday. The sporty Prince donned running tights, shorts and a tight top for a quick jog around the streets of Willesden Green.

Harry was on a motivational run with a group of homeless young people who are being supported by The Running Charity. The organisation aims to instil self-confidence and skills in young people by encouraging them to go running.

Harry and the group, which included a Met Police personal protection officer, completed the run in 17 minutes, zipping through leafy residential streets.

Harry went for a quick jog around the streets of Willesden Green

The two-kilometre jog was a walk in the park for Harry, who used to run half marathons during his time in the Army.

"He didn't find any of it hard, I think he's been training just for today. He found everything easy," said Claude Umuhire, 26, a charity programme officer who went from being homeless to running the London Marathon.

Claude led the group through a strenuous warm-up session followed by a gentle run. He attempted to put Harry through his paces, to no success.

"I tried to get him in the warm-up but he did pretty well, he kept giving me looks though every time I said 'Five squats!'" said Claude.

"He didn't find any of it hard," said charity officer Claude Umuhire

Harry, the fifth-in-line to the throne, was recognised a couple of times by members of the public.

"There was a woman who was pulling out of her driveway then she realised who he was and she drove in front of us and started taking pictures of him," said Claude.

"And as we were leaving, there was a guy at the traffic lights who looked across and did a double take – the joy in his face, it was so funny, his eyes just opened up, he was so happy to get a glimpse."

Harry joined a group of homeless young people supported by The Running Charity

The homeless young people who Harry was running with are residents at the Depaul hostel in north-west London. The hostel was opened by Harry's mother Diana, Princess of Wales in 1995.

"She really connected with the young people, and returned in a private capacity to play ball games with them," Martin Houghton-Brown, the UK chief executive of the Depaul group of hostels, revealed.