A schoolboy has spoken of his surprise after he managed to take a “selfie” photograph with the Prince of Wales, Prince Charles.

Mina Habib, 11, of Briardale in Stevenage, took the snap with His Royal Highness last week when he visited the Coptic Orthodox Church Centre based in the town.

Mina, who attends St Vincent de Paul Catholic Primary School and hopes to move to The John Henry Newman School next year, said: “I didn’t wait for the bodyguards to push me out of the way. He was coming in the line and then he shook my hand. I went up and just asked if I could take a photograph. It’s amazing to have a photo with a member of the Royal Family.”

His father William, 47, said: “He asked me if he could go and get a photo with Prince Charles and I said yes but I never imagined he actually would. He ran back to me shouting ‘I told you! I told you!’ He was very excited.”