In pictures: Prince Charles visits The Scheme

IT WAS the day Prince Charles stepped out of the weather studio and into a real-life soap opera – complete with wise-cracking youngsters and a hoodie who put an arm round his shoulder.

Fresh from presenting the BBC Scotland weather on Thursday, the Duke of Rothesay braved the subjects of the Corporation’s “observed documentary series” The Scheme, on a Kilmarnock housing estate, on Friday.

There was some concern on Twitter about the Prince’s wellbeing, with photographer Katie-lee Arrowsmith observing: “If his pockets weren’t empty when he arrived, they were when he left.”

Natalie Muir, a local, tweeted: “Prince Charles in Kilmarnock today, touring the scheme, he must be buzzng!”

But despite Onthank’s brash TV image, some of its residents appeared to become over-friendly with their royal visitor, with Tony Craig, 19, draping an arm over the prince’s shoulder as he proffered a thumbs-up to the cameras.

The prince met the Cree family, who featured in show, and Marion Cree told him about a community garden project for which they had been fundraising. She said: “It was brilliant to meet him, he seemed really interested in the project and told us to keep up the hard work.

“We were a bit nervous, but ‘good nervous’, and now we want to invite him back to open the garden in August.

“It’s a big deal having a royal in Onthank and really good for the area.”

Prince Charles also received some advice on his archery skills from an 11-year-old when he joined a lesson at the North West Youth Project – despite hitting the target with his first shot.

Although impressed, one fellow pupil suggested he might have some way to go to perfect the sport.

Jason Wilson said: “He was really good for his first time. He didn’t hit the bullseye like me, but this is my third lesson, so if he keeps practising he could be really good.”

Archery coach Jim McPike later revealed that Charles had actually picked up a bow before.

He said: “He did really well, but he told me he has fired a bow before, but not for a long time.

“He said it’s a great sport and he was impressed by how accurate the young guys were after only a few lessons.”

However, the 63-year-old prince ducked out of trying another popular youth sport on display – boxing.

Instead, he watched fighters from the North West Amateur Boxing Club go through their paces ahead of Scottish championship bouts.

Keiran McMaster spoke to him after sparring with a partner.

The 15-year-old said: “We only found out last night that Prince Charles was coming and I think everyone was trying a wee bit harder to impress him and the cameras.

“He asked us about our diet and how much we train, and seemed quite interested.

“It’s amazing to have a royal down here and hopefully the visit can get rid of the bad image the area got from The Scheme show.”

Charles was treated to a performance of Wild Mountain Thyme by Musical Minds, a choir that is supported by Alzheimer Scotland and made up of people suffering from dementia.

He also visited a homework club in the community centre and spoke to dental nurses in an adjoining health centre.

Earlier in the day, the prince formally opened East Ayrshire Council’s new offices at the Johnnie Walker Bond Building in the town.

Charles rounded off his week of Scottish visits by touring the Scottish and Southern anaerobic digestion plant that generates energy from processing organic waste.