Prince William is set to celebrate a significant milestone in his long-standing campaign against homelessness, as he marks twenty years as patron of the charity Centrepoint. The Prince of Wales first witnessed the harsh reality of life on the streets as an 11-year-old boy, when his mother, the late Princess Diana, took him to a shelter.
A Legacy Inspired by Diana
That formative visit ignited a passion that has remained steadfast for over three decades. Prince William succeeded his mother as patron of Centrepoint in 2005, more than a decade after Diana began her work with the charity in 1992. Now, he hopes to pass on that sense of duty and compassion to the next generation.
A royal source has revealed that the Prince is keen to take his eldest son, 12-year-old Prince George, to meet and support people at a homeless shelter soon. "He talks to George, Charlotte and Louis about homelessness a lot. It's something he's incredibly passionate about," the source said.
Celebrating Two Decades of Service
To commemorate the 20th anniversary of his patronage, Prince William will attend a party at the charity's London headquarters on Tuesday. The celebration will feature a specially commissioned chocolate cake, created by renowned royal baker Juliet Sear.
Sear, famous for the towering Bruce Bogtrotter cake in Netflix's 'Matilda the Musical', has baked her "ultimate chocolate brownie cake". She used the same indulgent recipe from Prince Harry's 30th birthday cake in 2014. The Princess of Wales reportedly advised that Prince William is a lifelong 'chocoholic'.
During the event, the Prince will also help create Centrepoint's new 'Wall of Hope', a collaborative mural co-designed by young people and artist Lanré Olagoke MBE. Furthermore, CEO Seyi Obakin OBE will present William with a montage of never-before-seen photos from his two decades of service, including images from when he volunteered undercover at the charity before becoming its patron.
Building on a Personal Mission
Prince William's commitment extends beyond patronage. In 2023, he launched Homewards, a flagship five-year initiative aiming to reduce homelessness across the UK. His hands-on approach has included spending a night on London's streets in 2009 to experience the challenges firsthand and making numerous visits to hostels over the years, often accompanied by the Princess of Wales.
The planned visit with Prince George signifies a poignant full circle, echoing the powerful lesson his mother imparted to him. It underscores the royal family's enduring dedication to a cause that has tragically affected countless lives across the United Kingdom.
