The Prince of Wales has voiced significant concerns about how digital communication is reshaping social interaction among young people, warning that society is losing essential debate skills through over-reliance on text messaging and social media platforms.
Royal Visit to North London Youth Initiative
During a visit to The Ubele Initiative in North London, Prince William engaged with three youth clubs supported by BBC Children in Need's We Move FWD programme. This ten-year charitable commitment, created in collaboration with BBC Radio 1Xtra, focuses on creating opportunities for children and young people from ethnic minority backgrounds across the United Kingdom.
The Art of Debate in Digital Decline
Speaking directly to teenagers at the social enterprise hub, the future king articulated his apprehension about contemporary communication trends. "We have lost the art of debating," Prince William observed. "Everyone just wants to send a quick message on social media or a quick text and it's just fired off and usually you read it incorrectly or it's got different connotations in it."
The Prince emphasised the fundamental importance of listening within communities, stating: "We are only a community if we listen to everyone." He elaborated on this perspective, adding: "For me, it's all about a message. If we're not talking about something there's no message, and we need to be able to hear each other and listen to each other."
Community Engagement and Personal Connections
During his visit, Prince William was greeted by representatives from the Thurrock African Group and radio presenter Richie Brave, where he learned about community radio and podcast projects designed specifically for young participants. The engagement included light-hearted moments that revealed the Prince's approachable nature.
When programme leader Christina Oredeko mentioned her family lived in Windsor, near the royal residence, William responded with humour: "Are you inviting your family over to stay? It's not the maddest question I've ever been asked!" This exchange prompted laughter from attendees and demonstrated the Prince's ability to connect personally with community members.
Recognising Diverse Perspectives
The Prince spoke extensively about the importance of understanding individual differences in thought and experience. "You think you know how everyone lives, but you don't," he reflected. "All of us think and feel and experience different things in different ways and I find it very interesting hearing other people's take on the same thing."
He further emphasised this point, stating: "I always find that fascinating because it kind of reminds me...it puts you back in your box...you're like 'hang on a second, not everyone thinks like you', it's really important."
Alternative Activities to Digital Engagement
Prince William, aged forty-four, also met with gardeners from the Humber All Nations Alliance youth group, where discussions highlighted the value of outdoor activities. The Prince expressed pleasant surprise when young participants mentioned enjoying sports, commenting that such interests contrasted with the more common pursuits of television, phones, or social media consumption.
His visit included interactions with rapper and presenter Big Zuu and Paulette Henry, master grower at Black Rootz - the United Kingdom's first multigenerational growing project. After tasting a salt bush leaf and remarking on its salinity, the Prince planted a perennial without using gardening gloves at Ms Henry's invitation.
Youth Reactions and Programme Impact
Fourteen-year-old Elijah and sixteen-year-old Jeremiah from the Society for the Advancement of Black Arts shared their photography project with the royal visitor. Elijah described the experience as "crazy", adding: "When he came in I was like 'wow, that's the Prince!'"
Jeremiah reflected on the significance of the visit, noting: "The future king coming to see us does not happen every day. We had a connection with him...it was definitely a memorable experience."
Sustainable Community Development
The Ubele Initiative, based at the Wolves Lane Centre in Wood Green, works extensively with ethnic minority communities to encourage youth clubs and community projects. The organisation is supporting the next phase of the We Move FWD programme through the launch of the We Move FWD Academy.
The site features greenhouses and gardens cultivating African and Caribbean produce alongside spaces for cultural activities. In a symbolic gesture, Prince William presented Yvonne Field, chief executive of Ubele, with a new female kiwi plant to accompany her existing male one, humorously assuring her: "It will be the most resilient kiwi around here!"
Substantial Investment in Youth Projects
BBC Children in Need has invested over four million pounds in more than sixty ethnic minority-led youth initiatives. Alex Holmes OBE, Director of We Move FWD at BBC Children in Need, commented on the programme's impact: "When young people have somewhere to go, something to do and someone who believes in them, they thrive."
He continued: "We've seen extraordinary youth-led social action through the projects we fund, young people shaping change in their communities right now. As we launch the We Move FWD Academy, we want to work with brands and employers to create practical routes into opportunity, so ambition can become a future."
