Prince William has revealed how a childhood experience with his late mother Princess Diana influenced him to help the homeless. In his upcoming documentary, Prince William: We can end homelessness The 42-year-old recalls his first visit to ‘The Passage’, a London charity dedicated to helping homeless people. Along with his brother, Prince Harry, and Diana, William first visited the organization when he was 11 years old.
“My mom took me to The Passage; She took both Harry and me there,” the Prince of Wales recalled in a newly released clip from the two-part series, according to CNN. “I had never been to anything like this before, and I was a little worried about what to expect.” Royal said his mother lightened the mood by laughing and joking with everyone, which put him at ease.
This visit had a deep impact on Prince William. “I remember thinking, ‘Well, if everyone didn’t get a house, they would all be really sad.’ But it was incredible what a happy environment it was… That’s when I realized there were other people out there whose lives weren’t like yours.”
The documentary, directed by BAFTA winner Leo Burley, details the Prince’s Homeward initiative – a five-year project launching in June 2023 that aims to end homelessness in six key locations across the UK. It also highlights the stories of individuals experiencing or struggling with homelessness.
Homelessness is “a complex social issue”, he stressed, but added that it can be eliminated. “Achieving this will require a movement that brings systemic change. A shift that focuses on prevention rather than management. “And it ensures all young people have truly affordable options to live and grow independently.”
The documentary also addresses criticisms over the Prince’s privileged background and whether he is suitable to tackle such issues. In another clip, he responded that he had “no other agenda than desperately trying to help people in need”. “I see it as part of my role.”
The documentary will premiere on ITV on Thursday, October 31 at 2:30 pm IST. The second episode will air at the same time the next day.
