Prince Harry was met by excited school children chanting his name when he paid a visit to St Vincent’s Catholic Primary School on Wednesday, but when he went to greet them it took a bit of convincing to make them believe he was the real deal.
The 34-year-old was visiting the primary school in Acton, London as part of the Queen’s Commonwealth Canopy conservation initiative, when one little boy in the crowd reportedly tapped Prince Harry and asked, “When is Prince Harry coming?”
“But I’m Prince Harry,” the royal replied.
Teaching assistant Philomena Frattura told People, “The student then said, ‘When is the real Prince Harry coming?’
“Harry replied, ‘I’m the real Harry. I’ve just had my hair cut for the occasion.'”
Puzzled, four-year-old Emmanuel Osei was eventually persuaded that it was in fact the real Harry and was given a high-five from the prince.
“They think a prince should have a crown,” learning mentor Diane Redmond explains – and seriously, who can blame them?
But this hilarious encounter isn’t the first time kids have been sceptical about his princely title.
In an interview with People in 2016, the father-to-be told the publication that children often don’t believe he’s actually a prince because he doesn’t always look the part.
“Every time I get to meet kids and they have been told a real-life prince is coming, the disappointment on their faces when they see me without a crown or cape,” he said with a grin.
Ahead of travelling to the Invictus Games in Orlando Florida, the Prince said at the time, “I’m worried because the American kids, especially next to Disney World, are going to be thinking, ‘You ain’t no prince, you ain’t dressed like a prince, you’re having a laugh!’
“So I am going to pack a crown and a cape this time and some funny pointy-toed shoes.
“I’m going to sign the crown out!”
The prince’s visit to the primary school was in support of the Queen’s Commonwealth Canopy. (Image: Getty)
The prince’s visit to the primary school on Wednesday coincided with a tree planting day, in support of the Queen’s Commonwealth Canopy and Woodland Trust.
The tree the prince planted will form part of the new ‘Forest School’ to help educate the students at the primary school about the vital importance trees have in our world.
On Tuesday the Duke and the heavily pregnant Duchess of Sussex made an unannounced visit to New Zealand House in London to pay their respects to the 50 innocent victims killed at two mosques in Christchurch on Friday 15 March.
Harry and Meghan left bouquets at the entrance of the building before leaving a message of solidarity in the book of condolence which read: “Our deepest condolences… We are with you.”
“Arohanui.”
