THIS is the amazing moment our future king quietly sold the Big Issue in central London.
Prince William donned a red seller’s vest and hat before taking a spot in Rochester Row, Westminster to sell the magazine.
He was only noticed when a passing Londoner spotted a “celebrity” – and went in for a closer look.
Retired Met Police chief superintendent Matthew Gardner shared photos of William on his Linkedin account.
He said: “My brother-in-law was in London today and saw a celebrity, so he took a photo at a distance.
“The celebrity saw the ‘covert surveillance’ effort and crossed the road to investigate further.
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“What an honour to have a private moment with our future king who was humble and working quietly in the background, helping the most needy.
“These ‘silent gestures’ often go unrecognised.”
And the royal didn’t miss his opportunity to make a sale.
“The finale to this unique occasion was when Prince William asked my brother-in-law If he wanted to buy the Big Issue, to which he replied “I have no change”,” Mr Gardner said.
“At this point William produced a mobile card machine… you cannot teach that!
“Priceless, or should I say ‘princely’.”
Building manager Jan Begala, 34, said the duke wasn’t surrounded by security.
”He was there with one other person selling the Big Issue for £3,” Jan said.
”Some people didn’t recognise him but I recognised him straight away.
“I worked in security for events during the Platinum Jubilee events so I knew exactly what he was like.”
A local caretaker who chatted with the prince said: “He was very, very warm and much better looking than he is on TV.
‘HE’S LOVELY’
”Many years ago I saw him outside an Italian barbers and yesterday I told him I had seen him and he said, ‘Yes, I had hair in those days’.
”He cheered the neighbourhood up and was very, very warm – he is a lovely person.
”If you were in the pub with him on a Friday night he would be friendly, good to talk to and pleasant.”
He said the royal wasn’t accompanied by any protection officers at all.
One Sainsbury’s cashier said: ”There was a crowd but because I could not see any security I didn’t recognise it was him until a customer came in.
“He was smiling and he was so friendly. He’s just down to earth and he appreciates all kinds of work.”
The Duke of Cambridge has been working on homeless projects since his mother Princess Diana took him to meet rough sleepers when he was a boy.
He became royal patron of initiative the Passage, in Victoria, in February 2019, and early last year visited the site to pack up lunches for those in need.
FUTURE KING’S AMAZING GESTURE
He also took over as patron of Centrepoint homeless charity.
Elsewhere, he has revealed that he talks to Prince George and Princess Charlotte about the plight of homeless people they see on the streets on their way into school.
Speaking to Mary Berry for her Christmas special A Berry Royal Christmas in 2020 he said: “On the school run already, bear in mind they’re six and four, whenever we see anyone who is sleeping rough on the streets, I talk about it and I point it out and I explain why and they’re all very interested.
“They’re like: ‘Why can’t they go home?'”
William’s shift has made headlines around the world since Mr Gardner’s Linkedin post first went viral.
Hundreds of people have now replied to the former cop.
One said: “Best thing about it is the fact that he was doing it with no fuss, fanfare or publicity.”
Another added: “Priceless from our future king.”
And a third said: “Amazing.
“Great guy and he’s a Villa fan!”
The Cambridges took a much more starry role in the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations last week.
The family appeared at all major events, including Party at the Palace and the service of thanksgiving at St Paul’s.
The duke used the huge concert to speak about another of his passions – the environment.
Taking the stage to loud cheers, he said: “While no one’s grandmother thanks them for talking about their age, my own grandmother has been alive for nearly a century.
“In that time, mankind has benefited from unimaginable technological developments and scientific breakthroughs.
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“And although those breakthroughs have increased our awareness of the impact humans have on our world, our planet has become more fragile.
“Today, in 2022 – as the Queen celebrates her Platinum Jubilee – the pressing need to protect and restore our planet has never been more urgent.”
