First photo of Diana and William visiting homeless people released

The Prince of Wales has said that “inspiration and guidance” from his mother, Princess Diana, has been the driving force behind his personal approach to homelessness.

In an upcoming ITV documentary, Prince William reveals how a visit to The Passage homeless shelter with his mother as a child had a huge impact on him, and how it helped him to “build the walls of the palace.” Talk about how it helped you see the outside.

The prince admits he sometimes feels guilty for not doing more, and hopes to share his empathy for people facing hardship with his children.

“When I was little, my mother started talking about homelessness, the same way I talk to kids at school run now,” Oji says.

If passion projects reveal anything about what makes people tick, perhaps his support for The Passage charity is the key to unlocking Prince William’s character.

The Westminster-based charity provides support and friendship to homeless people in London and helps them into safe accommodation.

Drawing on memories of childhood visits with his mother, the Prince’s long-standing support for charities formed the basis of the current Homewards Project, set up to tackle homelessness across the UK.

“My mother took me to The Passage. She took Harry and I there. I think I was about 11 at the time. Maybe 10. I had never done anything like that and I was a little nervous about what to expect,” he said in the ITV documentary Prince William: We Can End Homelessness.

“My mother, as always, made everyone feel at ease and we all laughed and joked.

“I remember thinking at the time that people would be really sad if they didn’t have a home.

“But it was an incredibly happy environment,” Prince William said.

The Passage published four never-before-seen photos of the prince visiting the London base with his mother, the princess, in June and December 1993.

“I remember playing chess and chatting and having great conversations,” the prince said of his childhood visits to The Passage.

“That’s when I realized there were other people out there who didn’t have the same life as you.”

Prince William became the charity’s official patron in 2019, but these visits, both public and private, continued throughout his life, often lasting several hours longer than planned.

In the ITV documentary, the prince was filmed serving food, cleaning up and hugging patrons at The Passage’s Christmas dinner. Claudette Dawkins, the charity’s head chef, is also seen intimidating him as she organizes the royal helpers.

He said of his concern for some of the homeless people he encountered: “They’re in really bad situations…It’s like you want to protect them.”

Over the years, Prince has spent a lot of time gathering information about homelessness, but now he wants to do something practical to prevent it.

Addressing the issue of his privileged position, the prince argues that the point of having such a large public platform is to use it effectively to take action on issues such as reducing homelessness.

“I feel like I need to use my position and platform to make a difference,” he says.

“I’ve spent enough time learning and listening to what people go through that every time I leave home, I almost feel guilty that I’m not being able to help more.” .

“I feel like I have to act because it’s a waste to just talk. It’s a waste to just listen. I actually want to see someone’s life get better and make them smile,” says Prince. .

“The only way I can think of at the moment is to alleviate (the problem) and help people who are less fortunate or in a very difficult situation.”

“I think he’s most at home when he’s just chatting with clients and listening to their stories,” Mick Clark, chief executive of The Passage, said of Prince William’s visits.

“People can get very nervous, and he’s very good at putting people at ease.”

Prince William’s Homewards project, which has six flagship stores across the UK, aims to show that homelessness is inevitable.

“The ultimate goal is to prove that we can prevent homelessness in these areas, so other areas will come and go. If they can do it, why not us?” Is it not possible?” says the prince.

This builds on the experience of Finland, where homelessness was effectively reduced through policies that provide people with safe accommodation and comprehensive support for contributing issues such as mental health problems and addiction. I am looking forward to it.

Among the people William speaks to in the film is Sabrina Cohen-Hutton, a rough sleeper turned fire chief. She draws on her own lived experience to advise the prince on his current projects.

The Big Issue’s outspoken founder, Sir John Bird, has warned that efforts to tackle homelessness have been failing for decades, but nevertheless supported the prince’s intervention.

“I’m so impressed that a young man with young children and a life like Riley’s was determined to stand up for the work he wanted to do and the work his mother did. .

“Princess Diana was probably the only person to shine a light on homelessness.

“What she was saying was, these are human beings and I’m going to orient myself to that. And I think her son William said this is a legacy.”

Prince William: We Can End Homelessness, ITV1, 30th and 31st October, 9pm.