Prince William says Princess Diana would think he was ‘mad’ for latest ambitious move
Fighting to help the homeless has been a major part of his life’s work, and last week Prince William said, “We shouldn’t be living with homelessness in the 21st century.” This fervent belief was instilled in the prince from a young age, and was the spark behind him launching Homewards in 2023 – a five-year programme that aims to demonstrate that “it is possible to end homelessness – making it rare, brief and unrepeated”.
A new two-part ITV documentary, Prince William: We Can End Homelessness, showcases the work Homewards has done since its launch last year. From watching the programme, it is clear the prince’s motives are sincere and his passions are deeply rooted in the example set by his late mother, Diana, Princess of Wales.
Filmed over 12 months, we first follow William as he visits charities, such as London-based organisation The Passage, to serve Christmas lunch. In between joking with staff, clearing plates and giving out hugs, the prince reflects on his trips to the charity with his late mother.
He admits he was nervous about what to expect, but was ultimately “amazed” at how happy the environment was.
Diana’s influence cannot be understated and it is a recurring theme throughout the whole documentary. We see William talk about how his mother made sure he was aware of life beyond the palace walls – something the 42-year-old has continued to do with his own three children, speaking to them from a young age about the people they see on the streets.
As well as visits to launch Homewards in six target areas of the country – Lambeth, Bournemouth, Newport, Belfast, Aberdeen and Sheffield – the cameras also follow William to private meetings.
