Duke and Duchess of Cambridge visit Stephen Lawrence Centre

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge met Baroness Lawrence

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge visited the Stephen Lawrence Centre and a youth charity in south London - on Catherine's last day of official events before the birth of her second child.

The centre in Deptford, south-east London, provides training for young people from disadvantaged backgrounds.

It was founded by Baroness Lawrence in memory of her son who was killed in a racist attack by white youths in 1993.

The Cambridges also visited XLP urban Christian charity in Gypsy Hill.

Baroness Lawrence showed the royal couple the Harris Academy law workshop that aims to raise pupils' career ambitions through lectures and mentoring.

'Genuine interest'

She also showed them a digital journalism project called The Write Way that encourages young people to develop their literacy and IT skills.

"It was a quite amazing visit," she said. "The duke and duchess spent a really good time talking to our young people and showed genuine interest in what they were doing."

Stephen Lawrence was stabbed to death at the age of 18 by a group of white youths near a bus stop in Eltham, south-east London.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge were given a guided tour of the centre

The visit was one of Catherine's last official engagements before the expected birth of her second child in April

He aspired to become an architect and the charity was set up by his mother in his memory in 1998, originally to provide support and bursaries to budding architects.

Staff and volunteers at the centre wished the couple good luck with their new baby, which William said was due "any day now".

Shepherd's pie

Catherine is believed to be around eight months pregnant and is expected to give birth at the end of April.

Before leaving the centre Stephen Lawrence's 10-year-old niece Mia presented the duchess with flowers and revealed that she liked to cook shepherd's pie, to which William replied: "I quite like shepherd's pie, I will have to pop round and try it."

William and Catherine then visited Christ Church in Gypsy Hill, south London, to find out about the work of XLP.

XLP describes itself as a Christian urban youth charity operating in seven London boroughs that helps young people from deprived inner city estates to realise their potential.

Many of the people it seeks to help are coping with family breakdown, unemployment, gang life and educational failure.

"For these young people to know that the royal couple is interested in their lives and wants to hear what they have to say is hugely significant, as well as inspiring for them," the charity said.

Performers from the XLP project entertained the royal guests

William and Catherine met young people at the XLP mobile recording studio in the final visit of the day