On the royal run! Prince Harry dons Lycra leggings as he takes to the streets of London for a jog with young homeless people on a charity visit 

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The black shorts and running tights are not his usual royal attire.

But yes, Prince Harry really did don Lycra as he went for a run through the streets of Brent, north London, today.

And local residents performed a double take when they suddenly realised that the man in black running with a group of young people was actually the fifth in line to the throne. 

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Prince Harry donned Lycra leggings as he led a group of volunteers and young homeless people for a run in north London

The 32-year-old royal looked in good spirits as he squatted and stretched ahead of the 2km route through Brent

One charity officer said he made sure he gave Prince Harry a 'hard' warm-up before they hit the pavement 

One woman drove in front of them and started taking pictures from her car, while a lorry driver apparently had a 'look of joy on his face' when he recognised Harry.

The prince was out with a group from The Running Charity, which helps homeless and other vulnerable young people build up their self-confidence by encouraging them to take up running.

Harry's run – which took just over 15 minutes and was said to be around 2km long – was with a group who were graduates and current participants of the charity's programme.

Claude Umuhire, 26, who went from being homeless to running the London Marathon and is now the charity's programme officer, said Harry took the run in his stride – even if the prince did raise an eyebrow at his attempts to wear him out during the warm-up.

He said: 'He did not find any of it hard – I think he has been training for today!

'But I did try to get him in the warm-up. We had a really hard warm-up. He kept giving me looks every time I said "Five squats!"

Prince Harry was visiting the DePaul hostel in Willesden Green, north-west London, which was opened by his mother, pictured in a photograph on the wall of the hostel

Prince Harry laughed as he shared a joke with volunteers from the charity, which is based in north London

Dressed in exercise gear, Harry led the pack at an easy pace, accompanied by his prince's personal protection officer

Harry, who arrived wearing all-black running gear provided by the charity, was visiting the DePaul hostel in Willesden Green, north-west London, which was opened by his mother.

After the run, which saw Harry lead the pack at an easy pace, accompanied by Mr Umuhire and the prince's personal protection officer, Mr Umuhire said: 'There was a woman who was pulling out of her driveway, and realised who it was. She drove in front of us and started to take pictures.'

Harry was also recognised by a man in a truck. 'The joy on his face! His eyes opened. He was so happy to get a glimpse.'

Afterwards Harry told his fellow runners: 'You have all made the decision to go running. Now you are all ambassadors for The Running Charity.'  

Prince Harry greeted volunteers from the charity before setting off on the run through the streets of north London

Harry certainly looked the part as he joined volunteers and members of The Running Charity programme for a warm-up

Prince Harry speaks with CEO of Depaul UK Martin Houghton-Brown beside a picture of his mother Diana

As he left, he spotted a green baize table and joked: 'Next time I will come and play pool maybe!'

The charity, which was set up by Alex Eagle, works with homeless charities to put young people together with qualified fitness coaches, using running as a motivational tool.

'Young people are so used to failing. But with fitness, whatever you put in, you get a result. If you make the effort the reward will come.'

One participant, Steve, ran the London Marathon last year. 'When he joined us he was seven stone and a heroin user. Now he is healthy, clean and employed. This year he wants to do an ultra-marathon – he wants to run from London to Brighton.'

Mr Eagle added: 'The prince observed that a lot of young people who use our charities have been let down in the early stages of life and that their success is defined by how they pick themselves up. That's what The Running Charity is all about, believing in young people and communities.'

Prince Harry arrives at the Depaul Trust Hostel to meet volunteers and young people involved with The Running Charity 

The royal joked that next time he came he would play pool with the young people - although he didn't struggle with the run

Mr Umuhire, who came from Rwanda when he was 10, became homeless after he dropped out of university. 'I was homeless for about eight months, sleeping on the streets.'

Then, after joining the charity, 'I found fitness helped me focus myself. Before, I played football but that was about it. Running was not my thing. But it can become very addictive. If someone had told me I was going to run the marathon, I would have said you were crazy.'

Martin Houghton-Brown, the UK chief executive of the Depaul group of hostels, said the Willesden Green hostel was opened by Diana in 1995. 'She really connected with the young people, and returned in a private capacity to play ball games with them.'