A group of Merton volunteer police cadets joined Prince Charles at Buckingham Palace to launch a new partnership of London’s uniformed youth organisations.

The five from the borough were among 1,300 young people from adventure, military and emergency youth organisations who met at the Palace to launch YOU London.

They also called for more adults to volunteer to run groups.

Sergeant Pete Balchin, leader of the Merton volunteer police cadets, said: “We spoke to Prince Charles and it was an absolutely fantastic day. My cadets went around the garden party doing mobile phone marking and they managed to get Boris Johnson to have his mobile marked, using invisible ink so that we can identify stolen phones.

“It was a day none of us will forget and we even think we saw the Queen poking her head out of the net curtains from inside the palace."

At the special garden party, Prince Charles met young people and adults from the nine organisations in the YOU London partnership.

He said: "My hope is that before too long we can replicate YOU London on a national scale so that every young person in the UK has the opportunity, if they wish, of joining a youth organistion.

“Our nation’s youth united together in exciting and rewarding activities should, I believe be our ultimate goal."

Mayor Boris Johnson, said: “We desperately need more adult volunteers to help run groups and give all young people, especially those who need steering in the right path, the opportunity to get involved.”

Merton volunteer police cadets have two branches.

In Wimbledon the cadets meet at the TA centre every Monday from 6.30pm and in Mitcham they meet at St Mark’s Church of England Academy on the same day and time.

For more information on YOU London visit youlondon.org.uk.

• Got a young family? See our Families section for top hints and help