In a poignant echo of his own upbringing, the Prince of Wales is preparing to introduce his eldest son to the realities of life on the streets. Prince William plans to take Prince George to a homeless shelter, hoping to instil the same sense of duty and compassion that his mother, the late Princess Diana, inspired in him decades ago.
A Legacy of Compassion Passed Down
Two decades ago, a young Prince William had his eyes opened to the plight of the homeless during a visit with his mother. In 1993, at just 11 years old, he accompanied Diana to The Passage, a homeless charity in London. That experience, as William later recounted, helped him see "outside the palace walls" and ignited a lifelong commitment to tackling the issue.
Following directly in his mother's footsteps, William became patron of the youth homelessness charity Centrepoint in 2005, over a decade after Diana began her work with the organisation in 1992. His dedication has since evolved into the ambitious Homewards initiative, a flagship five-year programme launched in 2023 with the goal of making homelessness rare, brief, and unrepeated.
Preparing the Next Generation
Now, William is determined to pass this philanthropic torch to his own children. According to reports, he frequently discusses homelessness with George, Charlotte, and Louis and is "incredibly passionate" about the subject. His specific plan is to soon take his heir, Prince George, to meet both those supported by his initiatives and the inspiring individuals working on the frontline.
"He's keen to take George to a homeless shelter soon to meet some of the brilliant people who inspired him to create Homewards, and the people who will ultimately be supported by it," a source revealed.
Celebrating Two Decades of Patronage
The Prince's unwavering commitment is being formally recognised as he marks 20 years as patron of Centrepoint. The charity will host a party in his honour, presenting him with a specially commissioned chocolate cake and a montage of photographs celebrating his service.
Centrepoint CEO Seyi Obakin OBE highlighted one remarkable image from William's early, hands-on involvement. "He spent five days volunteering undercover, talking to the housing benefit office, advising young people," Obakin said. The future king was so incognito that one young person remarked on his familiar appearance, to which William simply replied, "Yes, people say that a lot" before moving the conversation along.
Reflecting on his unique position to lead such a cause, Prince William has previously addressed questions about his privilege head-on. In the ITV documentary Prince William: We Can End Homelessness, he stated, "I come with no other agenda other than desperately trying to help people who are in need and see that as part of my role." He firmly believes that "everyone having a right to a safe, stable home benefits us all."
By preparing to guide his son through the same powerful, formative experience he once had, Prince William is ensuring that a deeply personal royal mission, first championed by Princess Diana, will resonate for generations to come.
