Prince Harry’s a hit on first day of visit
Prince attends event for mental health projects and meets young rugby league players at Headingley
Prince Harry proved a massive hit yesterday in Leeds as he kicked off an eagerly-awaited two-day visit to West Yorkshire.
His first day in the region yesterday saw him meet Rugby League officials and players and also visit a mental health programme in Leeds.
Scores of well-wishers turned out to welcome him.
HE CAME, he saw, he won the hearts of everyone he met – and today he’s set to do it all again.
Prince Harry proved a massive hit yesterday in Leeds as he kicked off an eagerly-awaited two-day visit to West Yorkshire.
His first day in the region yesterday saw him meet rugby league officials and players and also visit a mental health programme in Leeds.
Scores of well-wishers turned out to give him a right royal Yorkshire welcome in the sunshine when he arrived for his first engagement of the day, at the historic Aspire building in Infirmary Street in the city centre.
It was hosting Leeds Leads: Encouraging Happy Young Minds, an event bringing together mental health projects that have received support from the Leeds Community Foundation charity’s Leeds Fund programme.
Mental health is an important cause for 32-year-old Harry, who talked earlier this year about the turmoil he endured while trying to come to terms with the death of his mother, Diana, Princess of Wales.
He is also spearheading an awareness campaign called Heads Together with the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and in May the three Royals backed the Yorkshire Evening
Post’s #SpeakYourMind initiative.
In a speech at yesterday’s event, Harry said: “[What] has struck me most is the number of people I’ve met who have direct experience of mental health challenges, either themselves or those close to them.
“So many of these stories could have been very different if awareness was better and help had been sought sooner.”
“I cannot tell you how pleased William, Catherine and I are that the dial seems to have shifted and that there is now greater understanding, compassion and kindness for anyone who opens up about their struggles.” Later Harry – casually dressed in a white shirt, jeans and trainers – went to the Headingley Carnegie Stadium in Leeds to meet officials including the chief executive of Rugby League Nigel Wood, and his predecessor Brian Barwick. Other rugby royalty also turned out for the occasion as Kevin Sinfield, former England and Rhinos captain, chaperoned the Prince to the pitch and to the screams of more than 80 youngsters from seven Leeds schools.
But the real reason for Harry’s attendance was to see the Sky Try Rugby League Festival, a programme designed to get more than children from schools across the country playing rugby league.
Eight and nine-year-olds from primary schools in Leeds took part in seven-a-side touch rugby league games, coached by England players and coaches from the Leeds Rhinos Foundation – the club’s charity.
He later shook hands with mascot Ronnie the Rhino.
I cannot tell you how pleased we are that the dial has shifted. Prince Harry.