Prince and Princess of Wales Visit Scarborough

The Prince and Princess of Wales are visiting Scarborough today to launch funding to support young people’s mental health, in a collaboration spearheaded by the Royal Foundation.

The royal couple arrived at The Street at just before midday where they were greeted by a small crowd which had gathered outside the building.

Details of the visit had been kept largely under wraps for security reasons.

During the visit - the Prince and Princess will meet and engage with local organisations who will benefit from the funding which has been created from a collaboration between The Royal Foundation of The Prince and Princess of Wales and the Two Ridings Community Foundation.

Their Royal Highnesses will also see first-hand how community organisations are rallying to help those who are struggling with the rising cost of living.

The Prince and Princess of Wales have long been champions of the importance of young people’s mental health and Their Royal Highnesses are passionate about creating long term impact in this space through The Royal Foundation.

The Royal Foundation and Two Ridings Community Foundation have therefore convened local donors to secure funding to support the work of community-led organisations working with young people in the Scarborough area. The funding will be distributed to local projects by a ‘grant panel’ made up of young people from the local area.

At The Street William and Kate will meet the grant panel of young people. The young people on the panel have themselves been supported by local community organisations and the meeting is a chance to understand how grant decisions were made and learn more about how this funding will make a difference to young people in Scarborough.

Their Royal Highnesses will then meet three local charitable organisations who are beneficiaries of the funding and see first-hand some of the work they are doing to make a difference in their community as well as the benefit of localised funding.

Among the lucky people inside the Street to meet the Royals was Callie Rose who had dressed up as Princess for the Royal visit and got to meet a real princess.

These young people at the Street got to meet the royal couple.

Kimmie Avison runs the Gallows Close Centre in Scarborough, she met the Prince and Princess and says it was a great experience.

Jan Garrill, chief executive of the Two Ridings Community Foundation, has been working with the Royal Foundation and met the couple.

She believes the impact of rising living costs will cause more damage than COVID-19 in the long term for many families.

She said:

"Cost of living I think is - and I've talked to other charity leaders in our region - worse than the pandemic, and others are saying that.

"It's going to last longer and it's also worse because it's coming on the back of the pandemic.

"And I think the biggest challenge now is that the organisations are still dealing with increased demand from COVID.

"People are still vulnerable as a result of that.

"Cost of living is bringing more demand, and there's less of a funding response."

But she was keen to point out the boost that has come from working with the Royal Foundation to bring in more funding, and the importance of the royal visit for celebrating the positive work going on.

"That focus on place and people is great for us. It amplifies what we do in a way,"

Prince William spoke to those inside The Street about the purpose of the days visit and thanked them for the great work they are doing, but his speech was momentarily interrupted.

These local people were among the crowd welcoming the Prince and princess to Scarborough

Today's Royal visit is the latest in a number of royal excursions to Scarborough.

Prince Edward Duke of Kent was in the town for the National Armed Forces Day celebrations in June.

Princess Anne, the Princess Royal, visited Scarborough Hospital in 2020.

King Charles III visited GCHQ Scarborough in 2014 when he was the Prince of Wales and Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip officially reopened the Open Air Theatre in 2010.

The Royal couple were greeted at the street by the Mayor of the Borough of Scarborough - Councillor Eric Broadbent and Scarborough Borough Council's Chief Exec, Mike Greene.

Council Chief Exec Mike Greene tweeted :

"Great end to my last week @ScarboroCouncil to meet the Prince and Princess of Wales.Really great boost for the area to have  @KensingtonRoyal visit and see the amazing work so many committed people do to help the community. So many special people on this wonderful coast."

The Royal couple stopped to talk to the crowds of people outside the street as they left.