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POUNDING THE STREETS

Prince Harry appears in high spirits as he leads motivational run through the capital with homeless youngsters

Harry jogged with homeless youngsters from a hostel his mother Princess Diana opened in 1995

PASSERS-BY were stunned in London today when they spotted a very famous jogger pounding the streets of the capital.

None other than Prince Harry was spotted running through Willesden Green with homeless youngsters being helped by a sports charity.

Residents and workers in Willesden Green, north London, were left stunned as Harry ran through the streets
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Residents and workers in Willesden Green, north London, were left stunned as Harry ran through the streetsCredit: PA
The Prince's 17-minute jog took him along leafy residential roads and he was recognised a couple of times
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The Prince's 17-minute jog took him along leafy residential roads and he was recognised a couple of timesCredit: PA
Prince Harry visited the same Depaul hostel which was opened by his mother Princess Diana in June 1995
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Prince Harry visited the same Depaul hostel which was opened by his mother Princess Diana in June 1995Credit: PA:Press Association
He spent several minutes looking at the picture of his mother, who it emerged returned to the hostel in a private capacity to play board games
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He spent several minutes looking at the picture of his mother, who it emerged returned to the hostel in a private capacity to play board gamesCredit: AP
A picture of his mother with a group of young people on a flight of stairs was recreated with the Prince and the current crop of volunteers
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A picture of his mother with a group of young people on a flight of stairs was recreated with the Prince and the current crop of volunteersCredit: Getty Images

Harry, who donned tights, shorts and a tight top, jogged with young people and volunteers from The Running Charity.

The famous Royal was joined by a Met protection officer during his  17-minute run which took him along residential roads.

Claude Umuhire, 26, a programme officer with the charity, said about Harry: "He didn't find any of it hard.

"I think he's been training just for today. He found everything easy,

"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.

"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.

"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."

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After running with the group of young people, the Prince told them: "You have all made the decision to go running.

"Now you are all ambassadors for The Running Charity."

The organisation uses sport to develop life skills in participants and has been working with some of the residents from a hostel founded by the Depaul charity, which supports the homeless and disadvantaged.

Harry visited a Depaul hostel which was opened by his mother Diana, Princess of Diana in June 1995.

Fittingly, the Prince and the current crop of volunteers, staff and residents recreated an image of his mother on the same flight of stairs.

After running with the group of young people, the Prince told them they were now ambassadors for the charity
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After running with the group of young people, the Prince told them they were now ambassadors for the charityCredit: PA
The Prince was put through his paces before the run through the streets of North London
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The Prince was put through his paces before the run through the streets of North LondonCredit: PA:Press Association
More than one person did a double-take when they spotted the famous Royal out jogging with homeless youngsters
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More than one person did a double-take when they spotted the famous Royal out jogging with homeless youngstersCredit: Getty Images
When he left he joked: "Next time I will come and play pool maybe," a reference to the pool table in the corner of the room
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When he left he joked: "Next time I will come and play pool maybe," a reference to the pool table in the corner of the roomCredit: PA

Martin Houghton-Brown, chief executive of Depaul's UK operation of 55 hostels, said: "I am so grateful that these young people have had the opportunity to run with a prince to help them realise their potential."

Alex Eagle, co-founder of The Running Charity, briefed Harry about the work of his organisation which holds three sessions a week at the hostel and sets participants running goals, like a half-marathon, to build self-esteem and life skills.

At the event, Harry said that running and regular exercise can change "negative" thinking and "produce all kinds of opportunities".

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