The Prince of Wales was warmly welcomed by royal enthusiasts during his first official engagement following the Easter holiday.

On his return, Prince William, 42, joyfully greeted fans with selfies and hugs upon arriving at Mentivity House, located on the Aylesbury Estate near Elephant and Castle.

Opened in March 2024, Mentivity House serves as a hub for creativity, connection, and personal growth, offering workshops, youth clubs, and community initiatives like food and hygiene banks.

Arriving approximately 150 meters from the center, William was greeted by the organization’s founder, Sayce Holmes-Lewis, who guided him through the neighborhood where he grew up.

As they walked together, an enthusiastic local resident, Oluwaseyi Soyebo-Idowu, 50, approached the Prince, embracing him and exclaiming: “Let me give you a hug. I see a Prince! A King of England!”

In response, William asked, “Do you want to join the visit too? Shall we explore together?” Moments later, he paused to pose for a selfie with another fan, quipping, “Go for it, but you’ve got to be quick.”

Once inside the center, he showcased his skills at Mario Kart, competing against students from the nearby Michael Faraday School. After a tightly contested race, he defeated 10-year-old Zia, cheering, “Brilliant! We were neck and neck the whole way. Well done, well played!”

William then participated in a football match organized in his honor, pitting his favorite team, Aston Villa, against Bayern Munich. “I’ll only be here for ten seconds, I’m terrible at this,” he joked before conceding as his team fell behind 2-0.

During a roundtable discussion led by Tim Campbell, a former winner and advisor on The Apprentice, William expressed the need for organizations like Mentivity in every community. “Not everyone has Mentivity on their doorstep,” he noted. “It feels like you all are providing crucial life lessons, going beyond academics. You’re like life coaches and apprenticeships combined—that’s incredibly important.”

He added, “Looking across the country, I can’t think of a place that wouldn’t benefit from a Mentivity, which is concerning. How do we rollout something like this on a national scale?”

The Prince and Princess of Wales recently took a break from their royal duties to spend time with their children during the Easter school holidays.