FOLLOWING IN HIS MOTHER'S FOOTSTEPS THE PRINCE OF WALES REVEALS HIS AMBITIOUS FIVE-YEAR PLAN TO TACKLE HOMELESSNESS ACROSS THE U.K.

He was 11 years old when his mother Diana, then the Princess of Wales, took him to a homeless shelter for the first time

- EMILY NASH

That visit to The Passage in London made a huge impression on a young Prince William and has inspired him to teach his own children, Prince George, nine, Princess Charlotte, eight, and Prince Louis, five, about the plight of those living on the streets or in temporary accommodation.

Now it is driving one of his most ambitious projects to date: a mission to prove that homelessness can be eradicated.

With the launch of a five-year programme to tackle the problem across the UK in what would have been her birthday week, the Prince of Wales is honouring his beloved mother’s memory.

A royal source reveals: “This is something that means so much to him and it meant so much to his mother. It was that first visit to The Passage with his mother that has inspired this work and he has been across every detail of this project.”

The Prince, who turned 41 last week, will tour six locations across the four nations this week to unveil his Royal Foundation’s new Homewards programme.

Each area will be supported by experts, partners and funders – including more than 15 homelessness organisations – to come up with a locally led action plan.

The Royal Foundation will also provide each location with up to £500,000 in flexible seed funding to test new ways to deliver homes.

ASSEMBLING A TOP TEAM 

The Prince wants to show that homelessness can be ended and make it “rare, brief and unrepeated”.

He has also brought in celebrity advocates including DJ Sara Cox, TV presenter Gail Porter, former Spice Girl Geri Horner, opera star Sir Bryn Terfel and England footballers Tyrone Mings and Fara Williams to help raise awareness.