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Privacy NoticeWhile he is also a key supporter of mental health charities and environmental causes, the Prince of Wales is an important advocate for helping the homeless. Taking his inspiration from his late mother, Diana, Princess of Wales, Prince William launched Homewards last year – a project which is a five-year locally led programme and aims to demonstrate that it is possible to end homelessness by making it ‘rare, brief, and unrepeated’. And, in a new documentary, it is put to Prince William that some people may question if he’s the right person to lead a major project on the issue. William says: “I think everyone having a right to a safe and stable home, it benefits us all. I come with no other agenda than desperately trying to help people who are in need.”
William said his experience of visiting homeless shelters as a child with his late mother Princess Diana made him want to continue her vital work
(Image: Chris Jackson/Getty Images)
The criticism the Prince has received has prompted confusion among many, with one leading royal expert speaking exclusively to OK! of her “despair”. Former BBC royal correspondent Jennie Bond exclusively told OK!: “I utterly despair of the people who attack someone for trying to do good. What do they expect William to do? Sit in a Palace twiddling his thumbs and ringing a bell for servants? He knows perfectly well that he was born into a position of enormous privilege and wealth and several homes. “But, as he says… what IS the point of his existence if he doesn’t use that privilege and that platform to try to do what he can to help others? He is coming up with innovative ideas… which may go some of the way to helping the homeless.” Sign up to OK!’s royal newsletter to get updates sent to your inbox for free
Prince William launched Homewards last year
(Image: 2023 Getty Images)
There are six areas which are the focus of Homewards. These are: Lambeth in South London, Bournemouth, Newport, Belfast, Aberdeen and Sheffield. The goal for William – who is the Patron of homelessness charities Centrepoint and The Passage – is to make homelessness “rare, brief and unrepeated” as Jennie adds: “If the project doesn’t provide a complete solution (and let’s face it, he’s not going to wipe out homelessness in a few years) he can at least say he has tried his best and used his considerable convening power as fully as possible.” Reflecting on the influences behind Prince William’s pioneering work and the role Diana, Princess of Wales played in inspiring him, Jennie adds: “Trying to help homeless people is pretty much in William’s DNA as his mother taught him so much about the problem and took him to see close up what it is like to sleep rough. “It is now engrained in William that people who have had the misfortune to have no home deserve attention and help — and he is determined to give it. Good for him! And shame on anyone who criticises him for trying.”
Diana, Princess of Wales would take her sons to visit homeless charities from a young age
(Image: The Passage/PA Wire)
Since the launch, a documentary team has followed people involved in the project. William said the project was going to demonstrate homelessness “can be ended” – but his message faced criticism, including from anti-monarchy campaigners Republic. They suggested his involvement in the issue was completely at odds with his privileged position and the number of properties that he and the rest of the Royal Family have access to. Prince William: We Can End Homelessness airs on 30 and 31 October at 9pm on ITV1 and ITVX, STV and STV Player.Story SavedYou can find this story in My Bookmarks.Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right.Follow OK! MagazineFacebookTwitterCommentMore OnPrince WilliamPrincess DianaRoyal Family
