Prince William has spoken candidly about his commitment to tackling homelessness, a cause close to his heart and one that he attributes to the influence of his late mother, Princess Diana. The future king shared how Diana's compassionate approach has driven him to instil the same values in his children.
In an upcoming landmark TV documentary, he reflects: "My mother introduced me to homelessness a long time ago." The documentary features Prince William revisiting the same charity for the homeless that his mother took him to when he was just 11 years old, along with his brother Harry.
He goes on to explain on the show, "I have taken some inspiration and guidance from what my mother did, particularly with homelessness. That has grown more over the last few years. When I was very small my mother started talking about homelessness – much like I do now with my children on the school run."
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Displaying a down-to-earth and open demeanour, he is seen engaging warmly with individuals at a Christmas lunch, even helping to clear away plates and glasses while conversing with guests, reports the Mirror.
As viewers are treated to previously unreleased images, they witness a young prince engaged in a game of chess with a man at The Passage in London back in 1993. Recounting the experience, William says: "I had never been to anything like that before and I was a bit anxious at what to expect. But Mother went about her usual part of making everyone feel relaxed, having a laugh and joking with everyone."
Prince William has shared poignant memories of his childhood, revealing the impact that encounters with homelessness had on him, thanks to his mother's influence.
"I remember thinking if no one has a home everyone would be really sad but it was incredible how happy an environment it was. I remember having good conversations, playing chess and chatting. That's when it dawned on me that there are other people out there who don't have the same life as you do. She made sure when we grew up that the life outside the palace walls was real," the prince said.
It's these lessons he is passing down to his children George, 11, Charlotte, nine, and Louis, six. "When you are that young you are curious, you just want to know what is going on," William adds.
"We saw homeless people on the streets and you just ask, 'Why are they sitting there? ' and my mother would talk a bit about why they were there and it definitely had a big impact."
Now, the Duke embraces the importance of discussing social issues with his own kids. "I am starting to introduce homelessness to my children on the school run. The first few times I thought, 'Do I bring this up or should I wait to see if anybody noticed? ' Sure enough they did and they were just sort-of silent. After I said what was going on, I could see their brains try to work out what that means. I do think it's really important that we start those conversations when the children are small so they're not just living, you know, in their own little worlds."
Having been exposed to the harsh realities of life without shelter, Prince William became a patron of The Passage and Centrepoint charities, even going as far as to spend a night sleeping rough in 2009, to walk a mile in the shoes of the homeless and highlight their struggles.
He opened up: "When you talk to them you understand – well, I can't pretend I understand homelessness but you see in their eyes and the way they talk, the pain and the journey they've been on. How they are carrying this huge weight.
"You can't help but think it is a long way back for some. It is all about understanding why they are there. Because when you chat to them they are wonderful and really nice people. They have just had bad things happen to them. Things have conspired against them. Things go wrong and it just gets worse and worse. You feel it. They are really vulnerable. You feel like you want to protect them."
He launched Homewards last June aiming to tackle homelessness. Some questioned his suitability due to his privilege.
William shot back: "If I answered every critic I would be here all day. But I think criticism drives you forward. I think it is right to question but ultimately we are pushing forward to deliver change, hope and optimism into a world that frankly has had little of it for a long time. I hope I can bring something that hasn't been done before. Why else would I be here if I wasn't using my position properly to help people in need? I don't believe we should be living with homelessness in the 21st century."
A man compelled by personal experience has expressed his determination to significantly improve lives, admitting to feelings of guilt for not doing enough. "At some point you really have to say, 'Right, let's do something that is really going to make a difference to people's lives'.
"I have spent enough time learning and listening to what people have been through, I feel almost guilty every time I leave that I am not doing more to help. I feel compelled to act. I don't just want to talk about it or listen. I want to see someone smile because their life has been made better. Building a project is the only way I can see to help people who are in a very difficult situation."
The document unveils the chosen locations for an initiative dubbed Homewards – Newport, Lambeth, Belfast, Aberdeen, Sheffield, and the trio of Dorset towns: Poole, Bournemouth, and Christchurch. These places are set to receive tailored problem-solving approaches.
In an ITV documentary, Prince William encounters charity leaders from organisations such as Shelter and The Big Issue, alongside former homeless TV host Gail Porter, to discuss homelessness. Gail, now 53, had her own struggles with homelessness back in 2015 due to mental health issues, and she regards Prince William as an exemplary figure in spearheading change on this front.
"People have said to me, 'What does he know about homelessness? ' But they also say to me, 'I don't believe you were really homeless'," Porter recounts.
"It all went wrong for me. I was embarrassed and ashamed. I didn't want to tell anyone and didn't know where to go or who to speak to. So to have someone like Prince William doing this amazing campaign gives people access to not feel ashamed."
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