The Prince of Wales, Prince William, has revealed that his dedication to addressing homelessness is deeply rooted in the “inspiration and guidance” he received from his mother, Princess Diana.
In an upcoming ITV documentary, Prince William: We Can End Homelessness, he speaks about how childhood visits to The Passage, a homelessness charity, opened his eyes to the struggles of those “outside the palace walls” and ignited a lifelong passion for helping others.
Reflecting on these early experiences, Prince William recalls how Diana brought him and his brother, Prince Harry, to The Passage when he was around 10 or 11 years old.
He admits feeling nervous about what to expect but remembers his mother’s ease in making everyone feel comfortable.
“My mother started talking about homelessness much like I do now with my children on the school run,” he shares, emphasizing his desire to instill empathy in his own children.
The prince’s commitment is evident through his support for The Passage, where he became an official patron in 2019.
His efforts have extended to establishing the Homewards project, a UK-wide initiative focused on providing secure housing and support for the homeless.
Inspired by Finland’s successful approach, the project’s aim is to show that homelessness is not inevitable.
Over the years, Prince William has frequently visited The Passage, spending hours beyond his schedule to connect with clients.
In the ITV documentary, he is shown serving food at The Passage’s Christmas dinner, sharing hugs with regulars, and receiving instructions from head chef Claudette Dawkins.
“I feel compelled to act, because I don’t want to just talk about it,” he says, voicing his drive to create real change.
The documentary highlights how William’s work is influenced by conversations with figures like Sabrina Cohen-Hatton, a former rough sleeper who became a chief fire officer, and Lord John Bird, founder of The Big Issue, who lauded William’s commitment to the cause.
Bird reflects on how Diana’s compassion continues through her son’s work: “Princess Diana shone a light on homelessness…her son, William, has said, this is the legacy.”
As Homewards sets up flagship locations across the UK, Prince William hopes it will inspire others to believe that homelessness can be prevented.
His ultimate vision is for this work to create lasting change, saying, “Building a project is the only way I can see, at the moment, to try and alleviate [the problem] and help people who are in a much less fortunate situation.”
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