A BIG Issue vendor has told of the moment he met the future king and gave him a copy of the magazine.

Karl Burns, 55, is the Bournemouth franchisee for the popular magazine that helps people living in poverty.

He had an extra special customer when the Prince of Wales visited the town last Thursday, September 7.

He said: “I was sat here, and then somebody said, 'you know Prince William is about to turn up over there?'

“I went over, and I was in my Big Issue coat and everything.

“I saw Gazza [Paul Gascoigne, former England football player] outside, he was just going in.

"One of the Prince’s main protection officers, I approached him and said 'I’m here on behalf of the Big Issue', I said 'I’d like to donate an issue to the [future] king'.

“He said 'come with us', [and] escorted me right the way through.”

Dorset Echo: Karl Burns, Bournemouth Big Issue vendor and franchisee.

The Prince was visiting Pret a Manger while in Bournemouth to meet with local businesses that have shown support to the Homewards programme.

The programme, spearheaded by Prince William, is a five-year plan to tackle homelessness. He has also thrown his support behind the Big Issue in the past, going undercover in June 2022 to sell the magazine.

“When they brought him out, he came out, said straight hello to Gazza and I was standing right beside him,” Karl said.

“When I presented him with the issue, he then read it, and he then gave me £10.

“He then left a message with the manager, that my dinner was on him for that day, so he bought me lunch as well.”

Dorset Echo:

Karl said the experience of meeting Prince William was ‘absolutely amazing’.

“I’ve got a son who is 12,” Karl said.

“He is still jumping up and down that I was on the television with the [future] king and a football player.”

Karl is a well-known figure in Bournemouth town centre and said he loves his job speaking to people daily who know him by name.

He said: “I get on with everyone, I love it.”