Prince Harry is 'so excited' about his first child and 'will make the most wonderful father', Lady Jayne Woodward says

Harry shares a joke as he attends the official opening of 'Future', a new Youth Zone in Barking and Dagenham
PA
Robert Jobson11 April 2019

Prince Harry may be about to become a dad but the Duke of Sussex is showing no signs of nerves, according to an old family friend.

Harry, 34, is “just so excited” about the impending birth of his first child and “will make the most wonderful father,” said Lady Jayne Woodward, wife of former England rugby coach Sir Clive.

The couple met the Duke as he visited a £6.15m new youth centre in east London and took the opportunity to hand over a present for his baby, presented in a Paddington Bear gift bag.

Lady Jayne would not reveal what the gift was, but asked whether Harry seemed anxious about the life-changing event ahead, she said: “Not at all, I think he’s just so excited.

“He will make the most wonderful father. We’ve known him since he was about 13 and he’s a great chap.”

The Duke of Sussex laughs with Sir Clive Woodward (right) and his wife Lady Jayne Woodward
PA

Harry couldn’t resist joining in a quick game of touch rugby along with Sir Clive in the sports hall of the Future Youth Zone, which he officially opened yesterday in Barking and Dagenham.

As he left, he joked to Lady Jayne about he husband, “He’s so involved!” before thanking her again for the gift and hugging her.

Harry also appeared emotional as he received another baby gift from 18-year-old Georgina Hart, who told him his Invictus Games had inspired her to aim for the Paralympics.

Georgina, who has cerebral palsy, presented the Duke with a beautifully-wrapped silver birth certificate holder.

Harry as he arrived for the opening on Thursday
PA

She said afterwards: “When we found out Prince Harry was coming me and my mum were like 'we have got to get something for the baby'.

“It’s our way to say thank you for everything he has done – he’s actually my favourite royal.

“I was telling him the Invictus Games inspired me to try club throwing for the Paralympics.”

Harry arrived to a rock star welcome at the Future Youth Zone – the first of three centres being opened by the national charity OnSide Youth Zones in London this year.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex
REUTERS

It offers a safe environment for young people to enjoy themselves and improve their skills, aspirations and confidence at a time when issues such as knife crime have become a key concern for their generation.

During his visit he joined members of Barking and Dagenham (BAD) Youth Forum, Youth Zone members and representatives from the Box Up Crime project to hear their views on and experiences of knife crime and to discuss potential solutions.

The Duke again raised his concerns about violent video games, after asking what they thought were the reasons for the recent surge in the problem.

Told the influence of Drill music was partly to blame, he then asked about Fortnite and Grand Theft Auto.

BAD Youth Forum member Donnovan Augustin, 18, who chaired the discussion, said afterwards: “We told him that younger kids are susceptible to going out and doing things they hear about in Drill lyrics. We were saying that instead of talking about stabbing people in the lyrics, why can’t they talk about something positive?

“He was asking us, who could we target to do that. A lot of people said Stormzy... If someone like Stormzy started doing songs against knife crime, maybe that would reduce it.

“He asked us if we really thought it was just Drill causing the issues and we said, no it’s not just Drill, it’s everything around – like violent games like Grand Theft Auto and Fortnite. He was saying it’s really addictive but about killing people.”

The group also discussed the forum’s Fearlessness Initiative, which aims to help overcome young people’s fears about reporting crime.

The forum, set up in 2001 by Barking and Dagenham Council, is made up of 13 to 19 year olds elected by their peers in school and youth groups and has a say in issues affecting their lives in the borough.

Harry toured the huge new complex, which took 15 months to build, stopping to talk to many of the 250 young people taking part in activities there.

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