The prince of lab coats! Harry wears HRH emblazoned whites on visit to laboratory Prince Harry sets of shock tube explosion on tour of research centre Officially opened facility at Imperial College London on Wednesday Wore special monogrammed lab coat and safety goggles for part of event Prince Harry's visit to a research centre specialising in studying the treatment and recovery for those injured in bomb blasts went off with a bang - when he detonated his own explosion. After staff presented him with a lab coat embroidered with HRH, as well as ear defenders and eye protectors, he toured the laboratories and met the team on Wednesday. The prince grinned as he set off a device which detonated a shock tube to simulate an explosion, which created a shockwave and produced a loud bang. Prince Harry wears a special monogrammed labcoat at the official opening of the Royal British Legion Centre for Blast Injury Studies Prince Harry clearly enjoyed finding out more about the research centre Prince Harry is shown around the the Shock Tube Laboratory, where he was shown simulations of blast shockwaves and their effects on cells by Dr James Wilgeroth During the visit Prince Harry set off a shock tube explosion of his own, which created a loud bang He was appearing at the Royal British Legion Centre for Blast Injury Studies at Imperial College in central London. Dr Theofano Eftaxiopoulou and Dr James Wilgeroth demonstrated the machine to the royal and explained to him how scientists put materials in the way of the shockwave to analyse its effects. Prince Harry was given special personalised equipment to wear on the visit The force of blasts can cause nerve damage and affect brain function, and understanding how shockwaves affect people will enable better protective gear and treatments to be developed. Harry, a captain in the army who has twice served in Afghanistan, asked how kevlar can protect soldiers against bomb blasts. Professor James Stirling, the provost of Imperial College London, told him: "We're absolutely focused on that." Unveiling a plaque at the centre, Harry told guests: 'Today I have had a brief insight into the work of the centre including how injured cells are analysed. In the past I have met numerous servicemen and women injured on operations, many by IEDs (improvised explosive devices) and landmines. Their stories are harrowing and inspirational. Watching the IED simulation has reminded me of the catastrophic trauma experienced by a human body during an IED or mine strike - to me this makes their extraordinary stories of recovery all the more astounding. In addition to our military casualties and those civilians injured by acts of terrorism, many thousands more people across the world will suffer traumatic, life changing injuries, as a result of landmine explosions. Prince Harry greets former footballer Sir Bobby Charlton during the official opening of the Royal British Legion Centre for Blast Injury Studies at Imperial College London Prince Harry with Sir Bobby Charlton, who was a guest at the ceremony Prince Harry officially opens the Royal British Legion Centre for Blast Injury Studies at Imperial College London