William pitches in as charity bids to save playing fields

His patronage of the Queen Elizabeth II Fields Challenge is a personal tribute to his grandmother, said his private secretary, Jamie Lowther-Pinkerton.

The project is the first major initiative involving a member of the Royal Family that has been announced to mark the Queen's 60 years on the throne.

The charity Fields in Trust will run the initiative which aims to safeguard and help create more than a thousand playing fields within the next two years.

"Playing fields are not a luxury," the prince said. "They are a vital component of any healthy and happy community."

He added that the open spaces would be named after his grandmother and that he believed they would reflect her legacy.

"On a personal note, I sincerely hope that these fields will become a living reminder to all of the Queen's steadfast duty, dedication and love for this country."

William added: "This project is particularly relevant given the other landmark occasion scheduled for 2012 – the London Olympics.

"The Games will herald a decade of major sporting events to be held in the United Kingdom. The question is where will our sporting stars of the future come from if we continue to lose access to these important grassroots facilities."

William, 27, is following in the footsteps of his grandfather the Duke of Edinburgh who has been the trust's president for 63 years.

Philip was featured in a 1951 black and white film trailer, available on the royal channel on YouTube, that dramatised the need for more playing fields in post-war England by highlighting the plight of a group of football-mad schoolboys.

In the footage the youngsters in jackets and short trousers get moved on from a park and a residential street, where their football accidentally smashes a window, before going to see Philip at his trust office to ask for help.

The charity has warned that local playing fields remain under threat and that recent research had indicated 6,000 sites had been lost since 1992.

It wants local authorities across the country to nominate fields to be protected and it will also challenge the public to vote for their favourite playing area to be named a Queen Elizabeth II Field or in Scotland the Queen Elizabeth Field.

The Prince of Wales is to take three days off next week as he tries to fight off a persistent chest infection, Clarence House said.

Charles has cancelled an appearance at Royal Ascot and the traditional Garter Service at Windsor Castle on doctors' advice to convalesce.