Prince William has called for healthcare staff to take "enforced breaks" in their careers to protect their mental health

He said: "Everyone in the NHS is there to care for others, so the last person who gets looked after is the individual.

"And I've seen when I've worked with doctors and nurses, when I've worked with paramedics, they always put it down the line because they don't want to put their workload on someone else.

"For me, looking into the nation's mental health over the last few years, unless there's almost enforced breaks in someone's career, as part of your career development, we're never going to get to that point where you can look after their mental health, because you always rely on the individual to put their hand up."

During his visit, William - who has three children with wife Catherine, Princess of Wales - was invited to take part in a yoga class but admitted he didn't think he'd do very well.

He laughed to instructor Veenu Singh: "I can't bend. I will sit in a corner and talk while you're contorting."

Veenu explained staff learned breathwork and how to regulate their nervous system in her classes.

The prince said: "We all know when there's a yoga class that's when people relax and then just talk."

William apologised for bringing up "difficult memories" from the pandemic.

He added: "I want to pay tribute today to two members of staff who died."

Out in the garden, he paused by a cherry tree planted in memorial of nurse Julie Edward and a maple in honour of Dr Peter Tun, who both passed away in 2020.

Steve McManus, the chief ex ecutive of the Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust, said: "Having a space like this that is a lasting tribute to those two valued members of staff is very important to us."

William was also showed a vegetable growing area, where the produce is donated to a local pantry for the homeless and others in need.

Dave Richards, Oasis Garden Project lead told William: "It's an active space that brings in the community and draws the hospital staff in with the community and [shows] the power of gardens for health and wellbeing."

The 42-year-old royal agreed: "Definitely. Especially with lettuces like that, it's fantastic".