In a unique programme, audiences were taken behind the scenes in The Prince of Wales’ efforts to raise awareness around homelessness and showcase the first year of his Homewards programme, a five-year programme which aims to demonstrate that homelessness can be ended by working with six locations across the UK to put collaboration at the heart of the response.
The two-part programme followed Prince William launching the initiative, as well as included interviews with ambassadors of Homewards, and those leading individual projects across the UK to tackle the issue of homelessness.
The Prince opens up about his mission on tackling homelessness. (The Royal Foundation)
Early experiences of homelessness & Diana’s influence
Raising awareness around homelessness has long been a cause close to The Prince’s heart
, and it was work carried out by his mother Diana, Princess of Wales that inspired William to pick up this cause and support homelessness charities. In the documentary, William recalled the impact joining his mother on visits to homeless shelters when he was 11 years old.
He said: ‘My mother took me to the Passage, she took Harry and I both there. I’d never been to anything like that before and I was a bit anxious as to what to expect. My mother went about her usual part of making everyone feel relaxed and having a joke with everyone, you meet people, like I did then, who put a different perspective in your head’. The documentary also showed a number of never-seen-before photographs, including William playing chess with someone who used the services of the shelter.
William during a visit to The Passage with his mother. (Kensington Palace).
Prince William revealed that Diana had spoken to him and his brother from a young age, which ended up having a ‘big impact’ on him as a child.
As a result, it is something that he has spoken to his own children about when they would ask why they saw people sleeping on the streets whilst on the school run. William explained that ‘The first few times I thought “do I bring this up or should I wait to see if they notice?” – sure enough, they did. They were sort of in silence when I said what was going on. I do think it is really important that you start these conversations when the children are small so they understand the world around them, rather than just living in their own worlds’.
A number of previously unseen photographs of a young William visiting The Passage were shown in the documentary. (Kensington Palace).
The documentary isn’t the first time that William has touched on discussing homelessness with his children, during an interview in The Times in June 2023, the father of three stated that he planned to bring his children to homeless shelters just as his mother did, but he wants to find the right time when he can ‘balance it with their schooling’.
Reflecting on what his mother would’ve thought about William’s homeless programme, Homewards, he said that she would have thought her eldest son was ‘probably mad’. The future king spoke about what it means to be following in Diana’s footsteps in championing homelessness causes saying ‘what I want to see, and I think she would want to see, is action and movement and change. My mother introduced me to homelessness a long time ago, and it’s something that had a deep resonation with me. Not just because of the moments I had, but because of the connection I felt.’
The Prince of Wales joins volunteers serving Christmas lunch at The Passage in central London. (Picture by Andrew Parsons / Kensington Palace – Flickr)
The Duchy of Cornwall’s plans to tackle homelessness
‘Prince William: We Can End Homelessness’ also touched upon the Duchy of Cornwall’s plans to utilise land from the Duchy of Cornwall to build 24 temporary homes for those in need, and offer crucial support services for individuals experiencing homelessness.
The Duchy is partnering with Cornish homelessness charity, St Petrocs. The project, dubbed ‘Nansledan Homes for Change’, focuses on Nansledan, a growing community near Newquay.
These 24 houses will prioritise high-quality design and a comfortable living environment, going beyond the typical image of temporary accommodation. The first phase of the development will focus on ‘creating high quality temporary accommodation that feels like home’.
However, the initiative emphasises ‘wrap-around support’, offering residents access to vital services like mental health support, employment training, and financial guidance. This approach aims to empower individuals to break the cycle of homelessness and find a secure, independent future.
The Prince of Wales joins volunteers serving Christmas lunch at The Passage in central London. (Picture by Andrew Parsons / Kensington Palace – Flickr).
Criticism on William raising awareness around homelessness
Since William has made homelessness a key theme of his royal work, there has been much criticism towards a Prince who has a number of homes choosing to raise awareness around homeless.
Addressing the criticism and asked if he is the right individuals to lead on this project head in the documentary, The Prince of Wales said ‘everyone having a right to a safe and stable home benefits us all. I come with no other agenda than desperately trying to help people who are in need, and I see that as part of my role. Why else would I be here if I’m not using this role properly to influence and help people where I can? And I like a big challenge. I do like that, but I can’t do it my own. The ultimate ambition is to prove that we can prevent homelessness in these regions so that others will come along and say, ‘well if they can do it, why can’t we?’ I don’t believe we should be living with homelessness in the 21st century.’
The Prince of Wales behind the scenes filming a documentary for the Homewards Campaign with Fara Williams MBE. (Picture by Andrew Parsons / Kensington Palace – Flickr)
The documentary also featured interviews with ambassadors of the Homewards programme. One of the first interviews during the two-part programme was with Fara Williams MBE is a former professional football player, and is now a TV pundit and personality also shared her story and experience with homelessness. She said: ‘I experienced homelessness for a period of six years. Sofa-surfing, living at friend’s houses, hostels. Until I became homeless myself, I didn’t have any understanding of what homelessness was. I didn’t know anybody who was homeless; it wasn’t a word that was used. We all know as kids, you always say to your parents, ‘Can’t wait until I’m 16 to get out of this house!’ Then you become 16 and think that you can just walk out and live in the big bad world, when the reality of that is not true’.
‘Football saved me; it did give me that focus. It gave me something every day to wake up to. Football for me was a safe space. It was a good job I had a good coach in terms of the support she gave me. She actually bought me a sleeping bag. Such a small thing, but sleeping on sheets that you don’t know what’s been on them and beds that, again, you don’t know what’s been there before was really difficult. So that came everywhere with me. Those first few weeks are so important. If you get in then, we’ll see less young adults homeless for sure.’
