The Duke of Cambridge has revealed he has a secret musical talent – and has already been snapped up by former Aswad frontman Brinsley Forde.

The Duke met the performer when he hosted a Windsor Castle investiture ceremony, his first public engagement in the UK since the birth of his daughter Princess Charlotte earlier this month on May 2.

After the event Forde said: “I’ve just got a new bass player – you might know him as the Duke of Cambridge.

“He said ‘I’m a bit good on the bass guitar’ so I’m thinking of signing him up, but he’s got such a lot of other duties I don’t know whether he’ll have time to do it.

“I also congratulated him on the birth of Charlotte and said my son’s waiting for the birth of his child so I’m about to be another grandfather.”

William’s father the Prince of Wales used to play the cello but it is the first time the Duke has spoken of his musical talents, although he is known to be a fan of rap and R&B music.

Forde’s group Aswad pioneered homegrown British reggae and not only had British chart success but earned the respect of their Jamaican peers.

Their single Don’t Turn Around topped the charts in 1988 and cemented their position as one of Britain’s leading reggae acts.

Forde was also a child actor appearing in the 1970s’ television series Here Come the Double Deckers, the British sitcom Please Sir! and Forde featured in the James Bond film Diamonds Are Forever.

The performer is still remembered for his lead role in the 1980s’ cult movie Babylon about the life of young black man in a troubled London.

Speaking about receiving the MBE Forde said: “What’s touched me about this is having my mother come to Windsor Castle, because when she was young all they learnt about was England and the Queen.

“For a black family, to have your parents in a situation like this I’m really, really happy.”

He said he broke into acting by chance after he went to meet his sister when her Saturday morning drama class finished and began appearing in musicals before he won TV acting parts.