The Prince of Wales has mentioned his brother, Prince Harry, in a new documentary airing this week on British television.
It is thought to be the first time the heir to the throne has publicly namechecked his brother since the publication of Prince Harry’s controversial memoir.
In a series of rare on-camera interviews, Prince William has spoken out about his five-year mission to end homelessness and reminisced about his past.
His Royal Highness, whose mother first told him about homelessness on the school run when he noticed people sleeping rough, told a documentary crew about visiting The Passage charity when he was a child.
Prince William mentions his brother Prince Harry in new documentary
ITV/ Getty
“[Princess Diana] took Harry and I both there”, Prince William recalls in the first episode of “Prince William: We Can End Homelessness” airing later this week on ITV and ITVX.
The Passage works to prevent and end street homelessness, ensuring “everyone has a place to call home”. Princess Diana introduced Prince William to the charity, where he is now Patron, when he was 11, “passing on her legacy and care for those who experience homelessness”. Fast forward 30 years, the Prince of Wales is on a mission to make the issue rare, brief and unrepeated.
“I have taken some guidance from what my mother did”, Prince William told the documentary crew, who followed him during the first twelve months of his five-year homelessness project. He launched ‘Homewards’ in June 2023, which works with local communities to form blueprints to end homelessness in their area.
Aberdeen, Bournemouth, Christchurch & Poole, Lambeth, Newport, Northern Ireland, and Sheffield have been chosen as the project’s six flagship locations, receiving up to £500,000 in funding to kickstart their ideas.
Prince William’s new documentary is airing this week
ITV
Prince William said he wants to “prove we can end homelessness in these regions…so others can come along and think: ‘Hey, we can do it too'”. The documentary also explores criticism aimed at the prince, who enjoys personal use of three homes at Kensington Palace in London, Adelaide Cottage in Windsor, and Anmer Hall in Norfolk.
As the heir to the throne, Prince William has access to a number of other royal properties, including Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle. When lightly challenged on this subject, Prince William said: “Criticism drives you forward.” In separate clips, he added: “I don’t believe homelessness should be a thing in the 21st Century.
“Everyone having the right to a safe and stable home benefits us all. I come with no other agenda other than to help house those in need. I wouldn’t be using this role [properly as The Prince of Wales] if I wasn’t helping people where I can”.
Activists and charity bosses were quick to defend the prince in the two-part documentary series. “We don’t care where he lives”, insisted Safiya Saeed-Berberawi, who is a community activist and Labour Councillor in Sheffield. “The most important thing is that he’s [doing something about ending homelessness]…If he doesn’t, who will? That’s what we expect from a future King.”
Princess Diana and Prince William visiting The Passage on December 14, 1993
The Passage
The Chief Executive of youth homelessness charity, Centrepoint, which was one of Prince William’s first patronages in 2005, said he would rather have a prince doing something, than one that is “aloof”.
One of Prince William’s key priorities is changing the narrative and public perceptions around homelessness. In the opening episode, we see the future king in an informal and relaxed environment, serving Christmas dinner to a number of homeless people at The Passage. He shares a hug with one lady who tells him she is heading into rehab to help end her addiction.
Mick Clarke, the Chief Executive of The Passage, said Prince William is “most at home when chatting away with clients and hearing their stories”.
The Prince of Wales suggests that understanding why some people end up homeless is crucial, and thinks that prevention is a much better remedy than the cure. He meets a number of people with lived experience of homelessness and sits down with them to hear their stories of how they overcame their challenges.
Princess Diana raised Prince William to know and learn about homelessness
The Passage
The documentary also gives viewers a glimpse into The Prince’s unguarded world, offering a fly-on-the-wall view of a number of private meetings away from the public engagements.
In one meeting with homeless charity bosses, Prince Willam tells them he is the “glue” that holds all the different stakeholders together.
Teamwork from the private, public and charity sectors on a collective mission to end homelessness is a key theme.
Prince William is careful not to stray into politics, but the documentary does highlight the plight of one family who was issued with a Section 21 notice, informing them their landlord wishes to evict them through no fault of their own. The current Labour government has plans to abolish Section 21 orders.
Prince William visiting The Passage on June 14, 1993
The Passage
The documentary also highlights 24 homes being built on Duchy of Cornwall land, owned by Prince William, in Newquay with plans for wrap-around support services. Other similar projects are planned in each of the Homewards locations.
Finland’s ‘Housing First’ model, which firstly houses homeless people before supporting them with mental health or addiction issues, was championed as a success story.
However, the scheme is hugely expensive, costing in excess of €250million, and the documentary does not explore how “breaking the cycle of homelessness” could be funded in the United Kingdom.
The Prince of Wales passionately believes that change is possible, and the documentary explores how he is using his royal convening power to demonstrate homelessness can be ended.
“Prince William: We Can End Homelessness” airs this week on ITV and ITVX.