‘My wife’s the arty one!’: Prince William raises eyebrows with joke about Kate’s creative skills in wake of Princess of Wales’ Mother’s Day Photoshop gaffe – as he prepares for ‘joint’ appearance with Harry tonight

Prince William joked today that his wife Kate ‘is the arty one’, as he carried out a royal visit three days after she apologised for editing her Mother’s Day photograph.

The Prince of Wales was mocking his lack of creativity as he decorated biscuits with children in a training kitchen while opening a youth charity facility in West London.

In a comment likely to raise eyebrows amid the row surrounding the Princess of Wales, William said: ‘My wife is the arty one. Even my children are artier than me.’

William also told youngsters at the OnSide Youth Zone in Hammersmith and Fulham that his son Prince Louis ‘loves sprinkles, so I’m going to put some more on here’.

It comes as William and Kate continue to face intense scrutiny after the Princess publicly apologised and confessed to digitally editing a family portrait taken by her husband and released by Kensington Palace to mark Mother’s Day last Sunday. 

Kate is said to be distraught by the criticism – and today, the Agence France-Presse (AFP) news agency compared Kensington Palace to North Korea and Iran.

Later, William and his estranged brother Prince Harry will both separately take part in a ceremony paying tribute to their late mother at the Diana Legacy Award.

William will attend the event at the Science Museum in London in person, where he is set to give a speech to mark the charity’s 25th anniversary and present awards.

Harry, 39, will then join a video call with the 20 winners – although it is understood that his involvement will only take place after William, 41, has left the ceremony.

Other royals on engagements today included Prince Edward and Sophie who attended the All England Open Badminton Championships in Birmingham. 

On his visit to the £12million centre today, William played basketball and celebrated successfully shooting a hoop after four failed attempts at the site, which is called West (‘Where Everyone Sticks Together’). 

Also during the trip, William urged people to spend less time on their phones, as he told one youngster who confessed to scrolling: ‘The grown ups are guilty of it too.’

Dressed in a trendy blue ‘coatigan’ – a combination between a cardigan and a coat’ – William said ‘we have got to be better at it’, with people across the generations spending ‘ages on our phones’.

During the visit, he turned his hand to a range of non-screen-based activities, shooting a basketball hoop and icing a biscuit.

But he returned to the topic of mobile phone use twice during the engagement, in which he found himself in the middle of a crowd of excited children and teenagers shaking hands and taking a selfie.

Onlookers described him as being ‘in full dad mode’ as he spent more than an hour with youngsters, darting off to see a new room or asking his team if he had enough time to try his hand at another sport.

Arriving at the site, William was greeted by a line-up of dignitaries and congratulated them on their achievement in helping the young club to get off the ground.

‘What you’ve done here is incredible,’ he said. ‘I really like the concept, it ticks all the boxes – it’s fun, safe, educational… It’s great.’

Peppering them with questions about what the land was before the building, how they reach the young people to get them in, and what they would be doing otherwise, he said: ‘It’s a massive achievement.’

William was escorted by Kevin McGrath, Deputy Lieutenant for the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham who represents the monarch at official events locally. 

The Prince made his way slowly through the building, shaking hands with any passing child or volunteer and asking their names and a little bit about them.

His first stop was around an art table, where a team of young people who had helped design West told him about their vision.

‘It’s such a great space isn’t it,’ he told them. ‘What do you like most about it?’

As the conversation turned to what they would be doing if they were not at the facility, one young woman told him she would otherwise be ‘scrolling’ her phone.

‘How much time do you all spent on your phones a day,’ he asked, looking around to joke: ‘Everyone in this room has got something to be honest about here!’

Hearing that it could be up to 15 hours, William said: ‘I bet you feel better coming here, not on your phone.’

He went on to praise the organisation, which is open seven days a week, for giving a space to ‘get your homework done, then your evenings are a bit quieter’.

‘Where can you go and be kids and do your stuff outside school?’ he asked.

After congratulating the team, he made an impromptu visit to a state-of-the-art gym where he watched school children practising their dead hands and chin ups.

Cheering them on with a small group of youngsters, he joked around with boys who flexed their bicep muscles to show their strength.

William then made his way to the basketball court, where he heard from adult coaches before young players gathered around him to shake hands and chat.

Conversation inevitably turned to football, as he asked them ‘What do you prefer, basketball or football?’ and quizzed them on which teams they support before an in-depth chat about Jurgen Klopp leaving Liverpool at the end of the season.

‘It’s going to be close run in the Premiership,’ he told them seriously.

Gesturing to the adult staff members who will be on hand at the centre to support them, he added: ‘Ask these guys all the questions you want to ask please, not just basketball. Talk about anything, they’re here to help you.’

Agreeing to try and shoot a hoop, it was fifth time lucky for the Prince before he finally scored and could celebrate.

‘It’s so great that the older age group can help mentor the younger ones,’ he added.

Making his way back through the main entrance hall, the younger children giggled as he shook their hands.

Asking their names and hobbies, they played a guessing game to name his favourite football team of Aston Villa, and asked about his children.

‘I’ve got three children. George, Charlotte and Louis,’ he said, adding of his eight-year-old daughter: ‘She loves her ballet.’

He then attempted to walk past a pool table before getting drawn in, asking his team if he had time for a few shots.

‘Oooo so close!’ he cheered, as one of his young opponents missed a shot after he successfully pocketed a ball.

He cheerfully agreed to one selfie before members of staff moved him on for fear of getting swamped.

Upstairs, he was invited to join a biscuit-icing session in a kitchen.

‘My wife is the arty one,’ he said. ‘Even my children are artier than me.’

‘Do you do any cooking at home,’ he asked teenagers, hearing about their pizza and pancakes.

Asked about his favourite biscuit, he plumped for chocolate digestives or a KitKat. ‘Other biscuits are available,’ he added, laughing.

Choosing how to decorate his plain biscuit, he wondered aloud about writing a ‘big W’ before settling on ‘West’, the name of the young centre.

‘Louis loves sprinkles,’ he said, adding them liberally.

The Prince continued: ‘How’s that? Alright? It’s remotely edible. Not quite as good as yours, but it’ll do. In the couple of minutes I got to do it.’ 

He again turned the topic to mobile phone use, asking the room: ‘Are all of you on your phone quite a lot? Do you know how long you spend on your phones?’

He added ‘Do you think it’s a good idea to be on your phone all day?’, adding ‘Who said yes!?’ in mock outrage.

‘The grown ups are guilty of it too,’ he said. ‘We have got to be better at it, our phones, too. We spend ages on our phones.’

The Prince then met some of the supporters of the project, thanking them for helping to bring it to life.

Hearing how one young adult credited a youth club she visited at 13 with transforming her life, he said he hoped more people could learn ‘confidence, conversation, social skills and public speaking’ at a young age.

‘It’s interesting how many people have had role models they looked up to,’ he added. ‘I think you’re going to have quite a few of them here, which is amazing.

‘It’s incredible the energy out there. Everyone, everywhere, needs a place like this.’

The Prince was then cheered by the assembled children and staff, as he returned to the main entrance.

Rather than unveil the plaque himself, he clapped as 12-year-old called Yaya – one of project’s the youth development team – did the honours.

He left slowly, shaking hands again with everyone he came across and referring to some he had met earlier in the day by name.

On Monday, Kate publicly took the blame for the manipulated family photograph released by Kensington Palace as she issued a personal apology for the ‘confusion’.

Kate said sorry with a statement on social media which read: ‘Like many amateur photographers, I do occasionally experiment with editing.

‘I wanted to express my apologies for any confusion the family photograph we shared yesterday caused. I hope everyone celebrating had a very happy Mother’s Day. C.’

The photograph of Kate and her children, taken by William, was the first to be issued since the princess’s abdominal surgery and was released by the Palace to mark Mother’s Day.

It was issued in part to quell conspiracy theories about Kate, who had not been seen at a royal event since Christmas Day or after her surgery.

But it was withdrawn with a ‘Kill’ notice by international picture agencies hours later, and the UK’s PA news agency on Monday, because of suspicions it had been manipulated.

The saga intensified speculation concerning Kate, her health and her whereabouts, and raised questions over whether images released by Kensington Palace could be trusted.

Royal sources said the Princess made ‘minor adjustments’ and that Kate and the William wanted to offer an informal picture of the family together for Mother’s Day.

Kate was later spotted leaving Windsor in a car with William as he was driven to the Commonwealth Day service. The princess was not attending the service, but was understood to have a private appointment.

Despite calls for the original to be published, Kensington Palace said it would not be reissuing the unedited photograph of Kate and her children.

The Palace has faced growing pressure over the debacle with the controversy branded damaging to the public’s trust of the royal family .

Concerns were raised over a missing part of Princess Charlotte ‘s sleeve and the misaligned edge of her skirt, with other speculation including the positioning of Kate’s zip.

The picture was released to reassure the public amid escalating conspiracy theories online over the state of Kate’s health in recent weeks, but in an extraordinary turn of events sparked what is being dubbed ‘Kategate’ and even ‘Sleevegate’.

William and Kate have an established track record of issuing their own photographs, often taken by Kate rather than William, to mark special occasions including their children’s birthdays.

But the Princess’s confession has raised questions over whether – or to what extent – the images have been altered in the past.

Sky News said an examination of the photo’s meta data revealed it was saved in Adobe Photoshop twice on an Apple Mac on Friday and Saturday and the picture was taken on a Canon Camera.

Under the licensing agreement issued to photo agencies for use of official royal photos, Royal Households usually stipulate: ‘This image must not be digitally enhanced, cropped, manipulated or modified in any manner or form.’

Kate had surgery at the London Clinic on January 16, but details of her condition have been kept private, and she is not expected to return to official duties until after Easter .

While the fallout from the picture continued, William was back on royal duties today as he arrived in White City at 11am to visit West, the new purpose-built youth facility that will soon be available to young people in the area.

Kensington Palace said the site, which was given its name by local young people, will be staffed by youth workers who will ‘support young people from across West London to develop the skills and confidence they need to achieve their dreams’.

The West Youth Zone, which is a newly formed local independent charity, has facilities including a sports hall, fitness suite, indoor climbing wall, teaching kitchen and a performing arts studio.

There will also be a café which will serve hot meals costing no more than £1. 

It is also part of an education hub known as EdCity, which was developed by education charity Ark alongside Hammersmith and Fulham Council.

This centre will also include a new school, nursery, adult education centre and affordable housing.

West has been developed by OnSide, which the Palace described as a ‘national youth centre charity whose mission is to empower young people to lead positive, fulfilling lives by providing access to state-of-the-art spaces and exceptional, life-changing youth work in areas where they are needed the most’.

There are 14 Youth Zones in the UK OnSide network including in Bolton, Manchester, Wigan and across London – with seven more set to open over the next two years in areas such as Bristol, Grimsby, Preston and Essex.

In 2021, the then Duke and Duchess of Cambridge visited OnSide’s Wolverhampton Youth Zone, ‘The Way’.

During today’s visit, William spent time speaking to pupils from Ark White City primary school and West’ Young People’s Development Group who were involved in shaping the design and facilities in the new centre.

He toured the Youth Zone, meeting young people using the four-court indoor sports hall before seeing a teaching kitchen.

William also celebrated the launch of the Youth Zone with a plaque unveiling it ahead of its official opening next month on April 21, when it will be available seven days a week.

Later, Harry and William will both separately take part in the Diana Legacy Award ceremony.

It comes as the royal brothers have continued to distance themselves from each other in recent months.

The pair did not meet when Harry spent time with the King at Clarence House following news of his cancer diagnosis last month.

In an interview with ABC’s Good Morning America, Harry said ‘I love my family’ and that he was ‘grateful’ to be able to spend around 45 minutes with Charles when he flew back to the UK.

Harry published his controversial memoir Spare last year, in which he accused William of pushing him into a dog bowl in a row over Meghan Markle.

It was also claimed William teased Harry about his panic attacks.

Further tensions between the royal brothers can be traced back to the early period of Harry’s relationship with wife Meghan, when his then fiancee had a falling out with the Princess of Wales in the run-up to their wedding.

The Diana Award was set up to promote the Princess’s belief that young people have the power to change the world for the better.

Both William and Harry presented the inaugural legacy awards at St James’ Palace in 2017.

Dr Tessy Ojo, chief executive of The Diana Award, told The Times: ‘It’s a privilege to have the support of both the Prince of Wales and the Duke of Sussex – particularly as we mark our 25th anniversary year.’

A spokesman for the award also told The Telegraph that Harry will be a ‘key part’ of the celebration.

‘He is scheduled to speak with the award recipients, virtually, on the evening of the awards to celebrate their accomplishments,’ he said.

Yesterday, the King appeared full of cheer during an audience with Baroness Scotland at Buckingham Palace.

Charles, who has met the Commonwealth secretary-general on many occasions, welcomed his guest to the Private Audience Room for the in-person meeting.

The 75-year-old monarch, who is undergoing treatment for cancer, is continuing with his head of state duties including face-to-face audiences despite not carrying out official engagements in public. 

He was photographed chuckling and giving a wide smile as he shook Baroness Scotland’s hand.

The King is Head of the Commonwealth but this week missed the annual Commonwealth Day service at Westminster Abbey, although his pre-recorded video message was played to the congregation.

Queen Camilla and William attended the service along with other royals including Princess Anne.

Also yesterday, Camilla spent a day at the races as she attended the Cheltenham Festival.

Anne was also among the royal party as were Zara and Mike Tindall, Princess Eugenie and husband Jack Brooksbank, and Camilla’s friend and official Queen’s Companion, Lady Sarah Keswick.

Spotted in the parade ring before the start of a race was former army officer Mark Dyer, who acted as Harry’s mentor, playing the role of a supportive big brother figure for him after the death of Diana.

In October, OnSide published its ‘Generation Isolation’ report which found 76 per cent of 5,000 11-18-year-olds, surveyed in partnership with YouGov, spent most of their free time on screens, with 51 per cent spending most of their time in their bedrooms.

Charles Mindenhall, chair of OnSide, described the benefit the new centre will have for local young people: ‘As they come here and try different things, it helps them build an aspiration, not just to do those activities and get better at them but to try other things.’

He also commented on phone use: ‘With the Generation Isolation report that we did, too many children are stuck on their phones and that’s incredibly unhealthy thing for them to be doing.’