Breakdance banter puts Harry in a headspin on Nottingham visit

Prince Harry said he "always wanted to break dance" during a visit to Nottingham - which saw him open a police station and visit an inner-city youth club.

The prince was treated to a packet of Haribo sweets by one well-wisher outside Central Police Station in the city and then handed a pair of ice skates later in the day as he visited the National Ice Centre.

But it was at the Russell Youth Club in the St Ann's area of the city that Harry confessed his dream of being able to break dance.

Upon hearing that the father of one of the members was a break-dancer in the 80s, Harry said: "And you? No? You must have some skills... one day I want to see you spin on your head.

"Can you teach me? I always wanted to break dance. Trev (youth worker Trevor Rose) said he would teach me years ago but the fact is he can't do it himself."

Mr Rose then replied: "I've still got it! There's time!"

The prince was at the club to see the progress on Full Effect, a Royal Foundation-backed project which aims to improve the opportunities for young people and reduce youth violence.

It was set up after his first visit to the studio in 2013 and he returned in both 2014 and 2015.

At the National Ice Centre, Harry met apprentices including Cain Thomas, originally from the deprived St Ann's area of the city, who had the Prince laughing after telling how his new-found confidence may have deserted him for the royal visit.

The prince asked him: "Do you feel it yourself? The confidence you get (from the course)?"

Mr Thomas quipped: "I'm not feeling it right now."

Harry then replied: "I felt the same way when I walked in here."

The scheme works with 16 to 24-year-olds, developing them into fully-fledged sports coaches and - through its professional partnerships - getting them into jobs.

He was handed a pair of Size 10 Bauer Supreme blades towards the end of the visit - but opted not to take to the ice.

He said: "Thank you guys. I'm glad you gave them to me at the end, otherwise I would actually have put them on.

Harry added: "Missed opportunity."

The prince's humour was on show as he took a tour of the newly-opened Central Police Station in Nottingham, where he met neighbourhood policing officers and trading standards teams.

Enforcement officer Jordan Singh discussed the seizure of dangerous items with the Prince, including hoverboards.

Harry said: "I've never seen so many videos of those things going wrong and yet people still buy them.

"Do you have one? Does anyone here have one?"

After the room fell silent, Harry added: "I'm sure someone is lying."

Mr Singh said: "I have had a go on one, I'm pretty good."

During another part of the visit to the station on Maid Marian Way, Harry leaned over to look at the computer of Inspector Paul Gummer, asking: "Is that really work you're doing?"

After the officer replied that it was, Harry quipped: "Well, I think the jury's still out."

The prince then unveiled a plaque to mark the opening of the new police station along with Nottinghamshire Chief Constable Sue Fish.

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