The Prince of Wales, a staunch supporter of mental health and environmental initiatives, is making strides in advocating for the homeless. Inspired by his late mother, Diana, Princess of Wales, Prince William kicked off Homewards last year — a five-year mission aimed to make homelessness “rare, brief, and unrepeated.”

In an upcoming documentary, when the royal was asked if he’s the right person to spearhead such a significant endeavour, he said: “I think everyone having a right to a safe and stable home, it benefits us all. I come with no other agenda than desperately trying to help people who are in need.”

William said his experience of visiting homeless shelters as a child with his late mother Princess Diana made him want to continue her vital work ( 
Image:
Chris Jackson/Getty Images)

Meanwhile, criticism levelled at the Prince has baffled many, prompting despair from some royal commentators. Renowned former BBC royal correspondent Jennie Bond shared her thoughts with OK!

She said: “I utterly despair of the people who attack someone for trying to do good. What do they expect William to do? Sit in a Palace twiddling his thumbs and ringing a bell for servants? He knows perfectly well that he was born into a position of enormous privilege and wealth and several homes.

“But, as he says… what IS the point of his existence if he doesn’t use that privilege and that platform to try to do what he can to help others? He is coming up with innovative ideas… which may go some of the way to helping the homeless.”

Prince William launched Homewards last year ( 
Image:
2023 Getty Images)
The six areas targeted by Homewards are: Lambeth in South London, Bournemouth, Newport, Belfast, Aberdeen and Sheffield. Prince William, who is the Patron of homelessness charities Centrepoint and The Passage, aims to make homelessness “rare, brief and unrepeated”.

Jennie adds: “If the project doesn’t provide a complete solution (and let’s face it, he’s not going to wipe out homelessness in a few years) he can at least say he has tried his best and used his considerable convening power as fully as possible.”

Reflecting on the influences behind Prince William’s pioneering work and the role Diana, Princess of Wales played in inspiring him, Jennie adds: “Trying to help homeless people is pretty much in William’s DNA as his mother taught him so much about the problem and took him to see close up what it is like to sleep rough.”

Diana, Princess of Wales would take her sons to visit homeless charities from a young age ( 
Image:
The Passage/PA Wire)

“It is now engrained in William that people who have had the misfortune to have no home deserve attention and help – and he is determined to give it. Good for him! And shame on anyone who criticises him for trying.”

Since the launch, a documentary team has followed people involved in the project.

Prince William claimed the initiative would show that homelessness “can be ended”, but his words were met with criticism, notably from anti-monarchy group Republic. They argued that his involvement with the issue was contradictory, given his own privileged position and the numerous properties at his and the Royal Family’s disposal.