Prince Harry has met with runners training for the London Marathon on behalf of mental health charity Heads Together.
The 32-year-old royal – who spearheads the campaign along with his brother Prince William and sister-in-law Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge – visited the Newcastle Gateshead Quayside on Tuesday (21.02.17) to cheer on competitors who will be running for the organisation when they take to the streets of London for the long distance race in April.
Whilst there, the royal teamed up with teamed up with retired track and field athlete Steve Cram and former triple jumper Jonathan Edwards, who later praised the Heads Together campaign – which has been named as the official charity for the marathon – for its work tackling the stigma surrounding mental health.
Olympic gold medal winner Jonathan, 50, said: "Mental health preparation is incredibly important.
"I think to have Prince Harry and his brother is fantastic for this.
"I think lots of people struggle with mental health issues, but I think if you can talk to someone about your struggles like I would with my old coach, it’s so important and something we need to do."
Earlier in the day, Prince Harry had visited an event in Gateshead hosted by Walking With The Wounded, where he met with veterans who have received mental health support from the military charity.
He said whilst at the event: "What you guys are doing here is truly fantastic.
"There are guys and girls who, because of you, have been taken out of an incredibly dark place and offered a train track heading in one direction.
"They have turned their lives around and can be recognised for the service that they gave and the people that they are, rather than the mistakes they made."
Prince Harry meets London marathon runners
