Vendor Karl Grierson caught the Prince's eye as he visited Peterborough Cathedral, but had to wait while a private secretary scrabbled around for the cash needed to buy the magazine.

Karl, 23, said: "I didn't know until minutes before he arrived that he was going to be here, but I thought I'd try to sell him a copy and see what happened.

"He's just like any other human being, except that he's got a bit too much security around him and not enough ready cash."

After unveiling a plaque to mark the opening of the buildings, the Prince was taken on a tour of the cathedral, which he last visited three years ago.

He saw how the work had progressed since the setting up of the �7.3 million appeal, to which he has personally contributed.