In a move that echoes his own childhood experiences, the Prince of Wales is set to visit a homelessness center with his children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis. According to The Times, Prince William plans this special visit in the coming months, reflecting his deep commitment to addressing homelessness, a cause close to his heart, via Hello Mazagine.
Prince William, 42, has long been involved in homelessness advocacy. In June, he launched a five-year program called Homewards, aimed at tackling homelessness across the UK. The initiative seeks to form locally led coalitions of individuals, organizations, and businesses to collaborate on preventing and ultimately ending homelessness in their areas.
“In a modern and progressive society, everyone should have a safe and secure home, be treated with dignity, and given the support they need,” William said when announcing Homewards. “Through Homewards, I want to make this a reality and over the next five years, give people across the UK hope that homelessness can be prevented when we collaborate.”
Adding to his advocacy efforts, Prince William is set to appear in a new ITV documentary, “Prince William: We Can End Homelessness,” scheduled to air this autumn on ITV1 and ITVX. The two-part series follows the future king as he launches the Homewards project, offering an inside look at its first year.
Beyond the documentary, the Homewards program will also host an art exhibition titled “Homelessness: Reframed” at London’s Saatchi Gallery. The exhibition will feature works by renowned artists such as photographers Rankin, Opake, and Marc Davenant, alongside pieces created by children and young people.
Amanda Berry, CEO of The Royal Foundation, emphasized the importance of these initiatives in raising awareness. “We know that television has the power to change hearts and minds,” Berry said. “Homelessness can seem like it is hard to prevent, but by sharing the realities of people’s experiences and those who are coming together to support them, we can inspire action”, told US Weekly.
Reflecting on the exhibition, Berry noted, “This display underlines Homewards and The Royal Foundation’s dedication to challenging long-held perceptions around homelessness. By giving a platform to those with lived experience, we hope to start to shift the narrative and demonstrate that homelessness is not an inevitable part of society.”
Prince William’s dedication to ending homelessness is evident through his continuous efforts and the involvement of his children, fostering a sense of empathy and responsibility in the next generation of royals. As he continues to advocate for those without homes, his initiatives aim to create lasting change and inspire collective action to address this pressing issue.