Prince William wants to break the mould of royal visits with ‘community impact days’

Prince William wants to ‘break the mould’ of royal engagements by raising money for the communities he visits – after Megxit forced him to ‘start from scratch’ on modernising the monarchy, insiders have claimed.  

The Prince of Wales, 40, was joined by his wife Kate, also 40, on a visit to Scarborough yesterday where they toured two community centres who will benefit from funding which was created from a collaboration between The Royal Foundation of The Prince and Princess of Wales and the Two Ridings Community Foundation.

During the visit, it was announced they had facilitated £345,000 worth of funding from donors to help support young people’s mental health in Scarborough. 

The ‘community impact day’ was a reversal to the usual visit scheme – which would see royals visiting a community and hoping money would be raised for organisations – and instead saw money generated by the royals in advance. 

Insiders have now revealed how it is part of a plan from the Prince which he has been planning for ‘years’ – in an attempt to ‘shift the dial’ on royal visits.

Sources told The Telegraph the new idea was one of many William and King Charles  have had as they look to ‘modernise’ the monarchy.

Insiders said the Prince had for years hoped to change the way in which royal visits functioned.

He had been forced to ‘start from scratch’ and ‘readjust his sights’ after Megxit – and these ‘impact days’ are reportedly one of the plans which have risen from the ashes. 

They said the impact day scheme was ‘in the pipeline’ before the Queen’s death, but his recent elevation to heir to the throne has ‘increased his ability to put his own stamp on the royal way of doing things’.

However they said the ‘impact days’ would not wholly replace the more traditional royal engagements, and would instead be run alongside usual visits.

William and Kate visited two community centres as it was announced they had facilitated £345,000 worth of funding from donors to support young people’s mental health in Scarborough

Yesterday, William and Kate were greeted by a cheering crowd as they started their day in the North Yorkshire resort to engage with local organisations.

During his first official visit to the seaside town, the Prince of Wales described how providing services throughout the community and talking are ‘crucial’ in dealing with the ‘mental health issues that many, many people face’.

The royal couple took time to talk to the small crowds that had greeted them at the two community centres they visited on Thursday.

Kate gingerly navigated soft ground in lofty heels to get to well-wishers at the first venue – The Street.

Insiders said Megxit forced Prince William to ‘readjust his sights’ on modernising the monarchy (pictured, Prince Harry and Meghan  Markle) 

After the tour, William told the donors, volunteers and centre-users: ‘We heard a lot upstairs about mental health priorities, safe spaces, places to go for young people after schools and food, these are particularly keen issues that seem to be resonating through the community today.

‘I think, particularly on the mental health side of things, tackling that stigma, talking about mental health and providing services throughout the community are crucial to how we go forwards and deal with mental health issues that many, many people face.’

The couple met with the grant panel of young people who have decided how the money should be allocated and representatives of some of the community groups that will benefit.

The ‘impact day’ was a reversal to the usual visit scheme – which would see royals visiting a community and hoping money would be raised for organisations – and instead saw money generated in advance 

Beaming! Mother-of-three Kate was all smiles as she attended the second outing of the day at The Rainbow Centre

He thanked those involved in the collaboration between the The Royal Foundation and the Two Ridings Community Foundation, as well as all those who had donated.

William said: ‘Showing what can be done when a community comes together collaboratively is really something we’d like to follow on and be represented more widely across the country.

‘You’re leading where I hope others will follow.’

Jan Garrill, chief executive of Two Ridings Community Foundation, said: ‘The fund for Scarborough is the perfect opportunity to involve young people in decisions that affect them.

During the visit, the couple learnt about the work The Rainbow Centre has been doing to help people to cope with the rising cost of living through services such as food and clothes banks as well as offering a place to shower and do laundry

‘Thanks to the collaboration with The Royal Foundation and the generosity of our donors, we are delighted to announce £345,000 of funding which will continue to support the work we have seen today.

‘These funds are just the start, and we hope others show the same leadership and compassion and invest in this work.’

Amanda Berry, chief executive of The Royal Foundation of The Prince and Princess of Wales said: ‘Ensuring that young people have access to a wide range of mental health support is something that the Prince and Princess of Wales feel extremely passionate about.

‘Tackling the stigma around mental health and ensuring that help is there for those who need it continues to be one of society’s biggest issues.

‘The Royal Foundation is therefore delighted that by working with Two Ridings Community Foundation, we have played a pivotal role in galvanising funding to support the organisations doing this vital work in the community, creating a long-lasting impact for young people in Scarborough.’