The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry attend Coach Core graduation at London Stadium

Apprentices attended the ceremony from seven different areas where Coach Core operates (London, Glasgow, Essex, Nottingham, Birmingham, Manchester, and South Wales), with those graduating from London, Glasgow, Wales and Essex. Ahead of the ceremony, Their Royal Highnesses will have the opportunity to watch some practical sessions in action, where they will see a number of different sports being played.

Also attending the event will be partners and key supporters of the Coach Core programme. The Duke and Prince Harry will attend a reception at the stadium to meet with some of the key figures who have helped to deliver the programme, as well as hearing about future plans for Coach Core. The graduation ceremony will then begin pitchside at London Stadium and will include speeches from the Chairman of Coach Core Ed Wray, and Karren Brady the Vice-Chairman of West Ham United.

Their Royal Highnesses took to the stage and congratulate the 2017 graduates, inviting them on stage to mark their official graduation from Coach Core.

Earlier in the day, a number of professional sports players took part in a Q&A session with the apprentices attending to discuss the impact sports and coaching has had on their lives.

The Coach Core apprenticeship scheme was designed by The Royal Foundation of The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry to help train young people to be sports coaches and positive role models and mentors in their communities.

The apprentices learn technical sports skills alongside an inclusive and holistic approach to coaching, with an emphasis on employability and mentoring skills. Coach Core is proud to have transformed the lives of its apprentices with 98% of its graduates now being in full-time employment or education, and 80% retain strong ties with their employers and continue to engage in community sport.

You can learn more on the cities programmes by watching our YouTube cities programme playlist