Prince William has been spotted selling copies of the Big Issue in central London.

The second in line to the throne was in Rochester Row on Wednesday afternoon, not far from Buckingham Palace, standing on the side of the road with a homeless person.

A picture posted on LinkedIn shows the Duke of Cambridge in a red waistcoat worn by Big Issue sellers, and a red cap.

Richard Hannant, a property manager, was on his way back to the office when he spotted the Queen’s grandson among a small group of people.

Mr Hannant, 47, said he tried to take a picture from a distance but then realised William was walking towards him.

“He was amazing, he was so friendly,” Mr Hannant said.

William asked if he wanted to buy a copy of the magazine. When he said he didn’t have any cash, the duke produced a card machine.

Mr Hannant said he was very impressed with Prince Charles’s eldest son, who had just played a major part in the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee weekend.

“I think it’s that I thought was most amazing because one is a worldwide event, this is just a low-key (event), literally standing on the side of the road with a homeless person,” he said.

“I was quite amazed that he could go from one massive event to such a low-key thing.”

Mr Hannant told the duke they share the same birthday – June 21. William replied “happy birthday” and the pair got a picture together.

Mr Hannant’s brother-in-law, retired Met Police officer Matthew Gardner, posted his own reflections on LinkedIn.

Mr Gardner said it had been “an honour” for Mr Hannant to have a “private moment with our future king”.

William was “humble and working quietly in the background, helping the most needy”, he added.

“These ‘silent gestures’ often go unrecognised,” Mr Gardner observed.

William is patron of Centrepoint, a national charity providing accommodation and support for homeless young people.

The Big Issue is sold by homeless people, the long-term unemployed, and those who need money to avoid debt.

Vendors buy each copy for £1.50 and sell it for £3, keeping the profits.

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