HOMELESSNESS 'CAN BE ENDED'

As a new documentary highlights the Prince of Wales' commitment to tackling homelessness, a royal expert praises his ambition to help people in need

- REBECCA RUSSELL

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, the former 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.