Prince Harry has quietly invested his own money into a project that has been close to his heart since his royal days.
A Nottingham youth center has revealed plans to open a film school after the Duke of Sussex donated £1.1 million from his personal funds to support Children in Need initiatives helping young people affected by violence, according to the organization behind the project.
The donation went to the Community Recording Studio based in St Ann’s, which has received support from Prince Harry since 2013, years before his royal outing with Meghan Markle. During a visit to the center last September, the Duke reaffirmed his long-standing connection with the city, saying: “Nottingham has my commitment, my respect and always has a place in my heart.”
The association now hopes that this funding will allow it to replace its aging premises, where it has operated for more than 30 years.
Founder and CEO Trevor Rose described the impact of the donation as transformative. “The fact that he is helping us in this way shows what he has recognized and seen over the years,” he said. “He’s known us for over 10 years now. So him saying ‘I’m ready to do this’ is very important.”
Plans are already underway to expand the site into a modern creative hub. The vision includes a new recording studio, a basketball court next to a professional soccer field, and dedicated spaces for theater classes and creative work.
Mr Rose said the center aimed to become a full-fledged film studio. “We are going to become a film studio, we are going to bring out young actors,” he explained. “So a film school releasing films and acting classes, I think that’s a big step for us.”
