The daredevil teen who scaled The Shard has said he wanted to “inspire people to chase their dreams”.
George King, 19, from Oxford, urged viewers on Good Morning Britain on Wednesday to recognise his “philanthropic” purpose as he admitted to was "very lucky" to escape arrest.
It comes two days after he climbed the 1,017ft building, one of the tallest in Europe.
He told the programme: "Of course I take full responsibility. I do apologise if I disrupted anyone's commute time. However I would hope people see the philanthropic purpose of it.
"To inspire people to chase their dreams. Not necessarily to climb The Shard, but to do something unique. That doesn't have to be climbing without a rope, to find something unique if it's music, art, craft, whatever it is, to pursue it with excellence and to have a dream."
The 19-year-old was “spoken to” by Metropolitan Police officers following the incident but not arrested.
In 2012, The Shard’s owners secured an injunction to stop Alain Robert, known as the French Spiderman, from climbing it.
When Mr Robert later climbed Heron Tower, which is covered by City of London rather than Metropolitan Police, he was arrested on suspicion of causing public nuisance.
The Frenchman was given a suspended prison sentence and ordered to pay £5,500 in compensation.
Mr King said: "I got very lucky, but I think it's more the fact that I took precautions to reduce the cause and effect. I did it at five o'clock in the morning when it was less busy, and also the fact that I did it in 45 minutes."
Describing his interaction with police, he said: "They were brilliant. I think they were just more shocked than anything. It's just not a normal Monday morning for anyone.
"They saw light in it, some saw light in it, but of course they had their concerns and I had my justifications."
The teenager told the programme his mother first heard news of his feat while listening to the the radio.
"It didn't come as a surprise to her at all, she knew something was up,” he explained.
“With one month to go I was very much in the zone, my diet changes a bit. She knew something was happening but she just didn't know what it was."
He said his mother was “very happy” her son completed the challenge unscathed, but at the same time scolded him saying: “Don't do it again”.
He added: “She understands how much meaning it gives to me, how much I prepare, how much I train for it.”
Seven of his friends were accomplices to the exploit, helping the teenager "gather intelligence" before attempting the climb.
He also told the GMB hosts that he checked the weather forecast for two weeks before the big day.
Host Piers Morgan extolled Mr King as an "old-fashioned daredevil" and "an exceptional young man", adding that his spirit was "what made this country great".
Asked what his plans are next, the 19-year-old said: "I'm going to sit back, have a cup of tea, chill for a bit. A project will turn up.
"I'm just going to see how it goes. Something will pop up and I will pursue it with excellence like I have done with the preparations for The Shard."
