Prince William says he’s started talking about homelessness to his children so they’re not in ‘their own little worlds’ – but admits Princess Diana would think his quest to eradicate issue is ‘mad’

Prince William has shared how he’s already started talking about homelessness to his children so they’re not in ‘their own little worlds’ – and admitted that his mother Princess Diana would think his quest to eradicate the issue is ‘mad’.

Speaking in his new ITV documentary, Prince William: We Can End Homelessness, which airs next week, the Prince of Wales revealed how he introduced the subject to Prince George, 11, Princess Charlotte, nine, and Prince Louis, six, on the ‘school run’.

In the first episode of the two-part programme, the royal, 42, said: ‘When I was very small, my mother started talking about homelessness, much like I do with my children now on the school run.’ 

Princess Diana would tell her eldest son why people were there and he said ‘it definitely had a big impact’. 

Later on in the episode, he added: ‘I’m starting to introduce homeless to my children on the school run. I think it’s important to introduce the conversations when they are small.’ 

Prince William has shared how he’s already started talking about homelessness to his children so they’re not in ‘their own little worlds’

In the second episode, the Prince was asked about talking to George, Charlotte and Louis about homelessness, saying he’s ‘probably already started doing it’. 

He said they noticed it themselves and ‘there was sort of silence… you could see their brains trying to work out what it means… It’s important… so they’re not just living in their own little worlds.’

Elsewhere in the documentary, William was asked what his mother would think if she could see him now. 

He responded: ‘She’d think I was mad… my mother introduced me to homelessness a long time ago and it’s had a deep resonation with me, because of the connection I felt. 

‘When you feel human connection with someone who’s been in deep trouble, what I want to see and I think what she would want to see is action and movement and change.’

The Prince of Wales revealed how he introduced the subject to Prince George, 11, Princess Charlotte, nine, and Prince Louis, six, on the ‘school run’

The Prince of Wales admitted that his mother Princess Diana would think his quest to eradicate the issue is ‘mad’

Meanwhile, a young Prince William was pictured beaming alongside his mother Princess Diana in a never-before-seen images from a visit to The Passage in 1993. 

The photos of the Prince of Wales have been released ahead of his new ITV documentary, Prince William: We Can End Homelessness, which airs next week. 

In the pictures, a fresh-faced William joins his mother for a visit to homelessness charity The Passage, based in Westminster, in December 1993. 

William, then aged 11, can be seen giving out Christmas presents, playing a game of chess and listening intently as his mother speaks to those at the shelter. 

He also looked cheery after helping out with Christmas dinner, posing for a picture alongside the shelter’s cooks. 

A young Prince William has been pictured beaming alongside his mother Princess Diana in never-before-seen pictures from a visit to The Passage in 1993

The images of the Prince of Wales, now 42, have been released ahead of his new ITV documentary, Prince William: We Can End Homelessness

In a preview clip for the new documentary, William revealed he was ‘inspired’ by his mother to campaign to end homelessness.

The heir to the throne said: ‘I’ve slowly tried to work out what I can bring to the role and platform that I have. 

‘I have taken some inspiration and guidance from what my mother did, particularly with homelessness.’

He has previously revealed his visits to The Passage, where he is now royal patron, as a young boy left a ‘deep and lasting impression’ on him, and praised the work they do as ‘life changing’.

The exclusive ITV documentary charts the first year of his campaign to end homelessness. 

The future king has set his sights on making rough sleeping, sofa surfing and temporary accommodation a thing of the past in his ambitious five-year initiative programme called Homewards, founded by the prince and the Royal Foundation. 

It will involve stories from those who are currently experiencing homelessness or have previously been homeless. 

Well-known advocates of the programme and individuals leading projects across the UK will also feature. 

William, then aged 11, can be seen giving out Christmas presents, playing a game of chess (pictured) and listening intently as his mother speaks to those at the shelter

He also looked cheery after helping out with Christmas dinner, posing for a picture alongside the shelter’s cooks

Prince William says he has ‘no other agenda’ than to help people in a new clip for his ITV documentary

The Prince of Wales has long been passionate about ending homelessness, selling the Big Issue with vendor Dave Martin in 2022

In a preview clip previously released by ITV, William said he has ‘no other agenda’ than to help people in his mission to end homelessness. 

Dressed in a casually buttoned blue shirt, William addressed the question of whether he is the ‘right person’ to deal with the issue in a candid moment from the new show.  

He was asked: ‘There will be some people who question whether you’re the right person to lead this project and its efforts to end homelessness. How would you respond to that?’ 

The prince responded: ‘I think everyone having the right to a safe and stable home benefits us all. I come with no other agenda than desperately trying to help people who are in need. 

‘And I see that as part of my role. Why else would I be here if not using this role properly to influence and help people where I can?

‘And I like a big challenge! I do like that, but I can’t do it on my own.’ 

Director Leo Burley said: ‘Over the past year we have spent time following Prince William and The Royal Foundation through the first year of the Homewards programme.

‘We’ve heard some incredibly moving stories from people across the country facing homelessness.

Prince William has revealed he took ‘inspiration’ and ‘guidance’ from his mother Princess Diana in his work to end homelessness

The exclusive ITV documentary charts the first year of his campaign to end homelessness

Speaking in a preview for his upcoming ITV documentary Prince William: We Can End Homelessness, the Prince of Wales showed the behind the scenes journey of his campaign Homewards

Pictured: The Prince of Wales during a visit to Tillydrone Community Campus, Aberdeen, to spotlight how joined-up community support services can improve early intervention and prevent homelessness, June 27, 2023

Pictured: The Prince of Wales during a visit to the East Belfast Mission at the Skainos Centre, Belfast, as part of his tour of the UK to launch the Homewards project 

‘From street homelessness in Newport, to families living in temporary accommodation in Sheffield, and youth homelessness in Aberdeen, the documentary paints a picture of homelessness across the UK today, working with many people who never expected to experience life without a place to call home.

‘Everyone we’ve filmed with has welcomed the spotlight that Prince William and Homewards are placing on the UK’s homelessness crisis.’ 

Prince William has long been passionate about the issue of homelessness and is royal patron of charity The Passage, after visiting one of their shelters with his mother when he was 11.

In 2009 he spent a night sleeping rough to understand the plight of the homeless at Christmas and has joined a Big Issue seller at his pitch for the last two years in a row.

Homewards brings together a range of organisations to develop solutions in Newport, South Wales, three neighbouring Dorset towns, Poole, Bournemouth and Christchurch, the south London Borough of Lambeth, Belfast, Aberdeen and Sheffield.

Prince William: We Can End Homelessness airs October 30 and 31 at 9pm on ITV1 and ITVX, STV and STV Player.