Prince Harry gets stuck in at rugby match

The prince was visiting a community project in Ipswich, Suffolk, and donned tracksuit bottoms and an England rugby polo shirt for the occasion.

He was in boisterous mood as he joined in a game of touch rugby.

George Hill, nine, from Ipswich, said: “He was funny and making lots of jokes. He told me I had to stay behind the ball and joked that if I went in front again he would slap me.”

Jake Katz Roberts, 11, from Islington, north London, managed to dodge one of the prince’s tackles.

“He told me ‘That’s the last time you’re going to skin me,” he said.

“Harry was really fun and got stuck in.”

During the visit to Inspire Suffolk, Harry, a well-known rugby fan and vice patron of the Rugby Football Union, went on to join in a football kick-around in a similarly competitive fashion.

Aryon Tandel, nine, from Ipswich, said: “He tackled me and won the ball but I managed to tackle him back.

“He was taking it quite seriously.”

Brandon Norman, eight, from Ipswich, scored a goal against Harry’s team.

“He gave me a tap around the ear and said well done,” he said.

Harry then played goalkeeper in a miniature net as the children took penalties against him. Nobody managed to score.

Afterwards he carried on the fun with sporting activities in an indoor play area.

The prince began his day at the youth organisation which uses education and sport to improve young people’s lives.

He met young people taking part in the Prince’s Trust Team Programme, which helps disadvantaged young people into work, education and training.

Harry then travelled to the Suffolk Show, where he was meeting young farmers, viewing cattle, joining up with troops from his former base at Wattisham Flying Station and watching a parade of Royal British Legion standards.