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Prince Harry practises uncle duties during visit to Diana's charity

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Uncle-to-be Prince Harry got in some nappy-changing practice as he opened the new headquarters of Headway, the brain injury charity supported by his late mother Princess Diana.Headway provides support to trauma survivors and their families across the UK, and as Harry inaugurated their new base, he underwent a series of exercises that show what it's like to live with the constraints of brain injuries. One of the tests included changing a baby's nappy with one hand. Harry – who will become an uncle when Prince William and Kate Middleton welcome the royal baby – struggled with the challenge.

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"All the mothers will be, don't let me anywhere near the children," he said before joking, "This is actually how my brother is going to be." 

Crowds of flag-waving children had greeted the Prince as he arrived to open Headway's brand new base in Nottingham. The royal made a beeline for the young well wishers and spent an extended period of time chatting with them.  He showed all the ease and warmth of his late mother Diana, who was patron of the association from 1991 until 1996.Harry was also greeted by Headway's Vice President James Cracknell, above, and Victoria Cross war hero, Johnson Beharry. Both men are living with the long-term effects of brain injury.

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Andrew Green, chair of Headway, said Harry's visit was "a momentous day in the history of the charity.""Princess Diana's support of the charity greatly enhanced its profile and made more people aware not only of brain injury and its effects, but also of the help that was available," he added. "We hope Prince Harry's visit will help us achieve similar results and we offer our sincere thanks to His Royal Highness for taking time out of his busy schedule to support us in this way. "The Prince had an action-packed itinerary on his royal "away-day" in Nottingham. After opening Headway's new centre, Harry was scheduled to stop in on Russell Youth Club in the socially deprived area of St Ann's.

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The centre is run by a former gang member and works to build community spirit among the local youngsters who go there.

Prince Harry was shown a range of graffiti art, including a personalised homage which showed the words "Harry" spelled out on the youth centre's walls.

The royal also daubed his signature on the design, which had been created by local graffiti artist Steven Dilks.

Harry was also due to meet media students studying at the Confetti Institute of Creative Technologies, and to launch Notts TV – the area's first local television station.

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