Prince William went for a trek in England's picturesque Lake District - and high winds revealed a growing bald patch on his head.
The future King William V was walking up Helvellyn, England's third-highest mountain, for charity.
But his growing bald patch, at the age of just 27, was very much noticeable.
The royal completed the two-hour fell walk with youngsters from Centrepoint in Newcastle, which supports young people living on the streets. William is patron of the charity.
His fellow trekkers described the future king as being down-to-earth.
Prince William treks through rain for charity... but high winds reveal growing bald patch
By Daily Mail Reporter
24th July 2009
Daily Mail
Helvellyn is England's third-highest mountain
Prince William battled torrential rain to trek up a Cumbrian mountain with a group of young homeless people today.
The royal completed the two-hour fell walk with youngsters from Centrepoint in Newcastle, which supports young people living on the streets.
William, who is patron of the charity, said it was a great opportunity to provide them with a different perspective on life.
Bald patch: A gust of wind reveals Prince William's thinning hair as he trekked up a Cumbrian mountain with a group of young homeless people
'A lot of these guys have never done anything like this so it is a real challenge for them and I have really enjoyed meeting them,' he said.
He spent much of the Ullswater Valley trek with 18-year-old Jonny Glendinning, who has 19 piercings on his face and body.
Their unlikely friendship began when William joked that his facial piercings might freeze in the inclement conditions.
Mr Glendinning, who was made homeless last year when his mother threw him out, said: 'We were chatting about my piercings and he joked they would freeze up in this weather. I think he was a bit surprised when I said they have done before.
Different perspective: The royal completed the two-hour walk with homeless youngsters from the Centrepoint charity in Newcastle
'I didn't know he was coming until last night but he was a lot more down-to-earth than I expected, he was canny.'
William supported the group throughout the trek and, when they reached the summit, he told 19-year-old Rebecca Burden: 'See, I told you that you would make it, it was easy wasn't it?'
Supportive: The prince, who wore a Patterdale Mountain Rescue jacket, was described as down-to-earth by his fellow trekkers
The prince wore a Patterdale Mountain Rescue jacket for the walk from Greenside Mines to Helvellyn Mountain.
Team leaders from the Mountain Rescue England and Wales charity, for which William is also patron, arranged the expedition.
Staffed by 3,000 volunteers who are on call 24 hours a day, the charity makes more than 900 rescues a year, half of which are carried out by the 12 Lake District teams.
Challenge: William told how he had enjoyed meeting the youngsters, who joined him in raising a London 2012 flag at the summit
William said: 'These men and women are unsung heroes. They are up and down these mountains rescuing people with broken legs every day.'
He also helped the youngsters from Centrepoint to raise a London 2012 flag to mark three years until the start of the Olympics.
Later Prince William, a Flight Lieutenant in the RAF, will board a steam boat with families who are looked after by WellChild, the national charity for sick children.
dailymail.co.uk
The future King William V was walking up Helvellyn, England's third-highest mountain, for charity.
But his growing bald patch, at the age of just 27, was very much noticeable.
The royal completed the two-hour fell walk with youngsters from Centrepoint in Newcastle, which supports young people living on the streets. William is patron of the charity.
His fellow trekkers described the future king as being down-to-earth.
Prince William treks through rain for charity... but high winds reveal growing bald patch
By Daily Mail Reporter
24th July 2009
Daily Mail
Helvellyn is England's third-highest mountain
Prince William battled torrential rain to trek up a Cumbrian mountain with a group of young homeless people today.
The royal completed the two-hour fell walk with youngsters from Centrepoint in Newcastle, which supports young people living on the streets.
William, who is patron of the charity, said it was a great opportunity to provide them with a different perspective on life.
Bald patch: A gust of wind reveals Prince William's thinning hair as he trekked up a Cumbrian mountain with a group of young homeless people
'A lot of these guys have never done anything like this so it is a real challenge for them and I have really enjoyed meeting them,' he said.
He spent much of the Ullswater Valley trek with 18-year-old Jonny Glendinning, who has 19 piercings on his face and body.
Their unlikely friendship began when William joked that his facial piercings might freeze in the inclement conditions.
Mr Glendinning, who was made homeless last year when his mother threw him out, said: 'We were chatting about my piercings and he joked they would freeze up in this weather. I think he was a bit surprised when I said they have done before.
Different perspective: The royal completed the two-hour walk with homeless youngsters from the Centrepoint charity in Newcastle
'I didn't know he was coming until last night but he was a lot more down-to-earth than I expected, he was canny.'
William supported the group throughout the trek and, when they reached the summit, he told 19-year-old Rebecca Burden: 'See, I told you that you would make it, it was easy wasn't it?'
Supportive: The prince, who wore a Patterdale Mountain Rescue jacket, was described as down-to-earth by his fellow trekkers
The prince wore a Patterdale Mountain Rescue jacket for the walk from Greenside Mines to Helvellyn Mountain.
Team leaders from the Mountain Rescue England and Wales charity, for which William is also patron, arranged the expedition.
Staffed by 3,000 volunteers who are on call 24 hours a day, the charity makes more than 900 rescues a year, half of which are carried out by the 12 Lake District teams.
Challenge: William told how he had enjoyed meeting the youngsters, who joined him in raising a London 2012 flag at the summit
William said: 'These men and women are unsung heroes. They are up and down these mountains rescuing people with broken legs every day.'
He also helped the youngsters from Centrepoint to raise a London 2012 flag to mark three years until the start of the Olympics.
Later Prince William, a Flight Lieutenant in the RAF, will board a steam boat with families who are looked after by WellChild, the national charity for sick children.
dailymail.co.uk
