Prince William signs child's cast on beach visit

Prince William visited Fistral beach in Newquay on Thursday after earlier seeing the site of the Duchy of Cornwall's first homeless housing project.

The prince met and played volleyball with young lifeguards before posing for selfies with members of the public.

He also signed the plaster cast of a nine-year-old boy.

Earlier he had visited the site of a 24-home project for the homeless on duchy land at Nansledan.

The boy who had his plaster cast signed, Phoenix, broke his arm falling off a swing and was offered advice by the prince.

Phoenix said: "He said: 'You need to be careful. Next time, hang on properly.'"

The prince also took part in an impromptu game of volleyball with young lifeguards from Holywell Bay and Newquay surf lifesaving clubs, and watched their training drills.

He then met members of the RNLI who patrol the beach.

In the morning, the prince visited the Nansledan site, where he spoke to Max Hedges, who has been supported by the Cornish homeless charity, St Petroc's.

Afterwards, Mr Hedges said: "He was basically asking me about the impact that St Petroc's has had on me, as a resident of the supported houses, and I explained to him that words fail me about the support I've received.

"I'm so for these houses, and it's going to give people like me opportunities to progress as I have, and somewhere to live as well."

Prince William is due to make his first visit to the Isles of Scilly since becoming Duke of Cornwall in 2022 on Friday.

He is expected to meet operators of St Mary's harbour and staff at the island's hospital.

The duchy said it was working with the Council of the Isles of Scilly to build a new integrated health and social care facility on land it owns next to St Mary's Community Hospital.

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