Prince William has spoken out about criticism of his Homewards programme and his lifestyle in a new two-part ITV documentary. The documentary, Prince William: We Can End Homelessness, shows the prince addressing concerns about his wealth and properties while explaining his commitment to fighting homelessness in the UK.
Criticism drives William’s mission
In the documentary, William responds to radio host James O’Brien, who relayed criticism from Republic, an anti-monarchist group. Graham Smith, Republic’s chief executive, argued that homelessness is an issue of government policy, not charity or royal patronage.
When asked about the critique, William said, “If I answered every critic, I’d be here all day. But criticism drives you forward.” He added, “It’s right to question, but ultimately, we’re trying to deliver change, hope, and optimism. I hope I can bring something new to the issue.”
Documentary captures Homewards in action
The documentary follows William through the first year of his five-year Homewards programme, aimed at tackling homelessness. In one segment, he visits Nansledan near Newquay, where the Duchy of Cornwall is building 24 homes.
“I’m not saying I’ll solve the world’s homelessness problems,” he notes, “but I am going to show people how to prevent it.”
The reality of homelessness in Britain
Over 350,000 people in Britain lack a permanent home. The number of homeless people, or those at risk, aged 16 to 24, has risen to over 130,000. During the documentary, William also discusses homelessness with his own children, George, Charlotte, and Louis, while driving them to school in Windsor. He shares that Windsor’s local council managed 101 homelessness cases earlier this year, with 25 people sleeping rough.
Teaching compassion to his children
The prince explains he wanted to discuss homelessness openly with his children so they can better understand the world beyond their own lives. “At first, I wondered if I should bring it up, or just wait to see if they noticed. And sure enough, they did,” he says. “They went silent when I explained. I think it’s important to start these conversations young, so they understand the world around them.”
The documentary airs on ITV this Wednesday and Thursday.
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