Prince William has introduced Prince George to a cause that shaped his own childhood, taking his eldest son to a homelessness charity he first visited with Princess Diana more than three decades ago.
The Prince of Wales and 10-year-old George made an unannounced visit on Tuesday morning to The Passage in Victoria, London, where they joined volunteers preparing the charity’s annual Christmas lunch. The organisation provides support, accommodation and services for people experiencing homelessness.
Images and video released by Kensington Palace show the father and son wearing aprons as they helped in the kitchen alongside head chef Claudette, offering a rare glimpse of George taking part in hands-on volunteering.
They also packed care packages, baked cupcakes and decorated a Christmas tree that previously stood in Westminster Abbey for the Princess of Wales’s Together at Christmas carol service, reinforcing the festive spirit of the visit.
Prince William continues Princess Diana’s legacy on homelessness
The Passage holds deep personal meaning for Prince William. Princess Diana brought him to see the charity’s work when he was 11 years old, an experience he has often said influenced his lifelong commitment to tackling homelessness.
The charity’s chief executive, Mick Clarke, who guided the royal visitors, said Prince George showed a strong curiosity during the visit. “Prince William has often talked about, during his childhood, how his mother talked about – I think as he described – the importance of viewing life beyond palace walls.
“And I very much picked that up with George as well. And it seemed to me that this was, or is, a family that are just trying to ensure that their children are brought up with greater awareness of what is around them and the need to ensure that, particularly, the most vulnerable in society are supported and looked after.
“I think George was genuinely moved to experience the work that we do, even just a little snapshot of it.”
Prince William has previously credited that early visit with inspiring his work on homelessness, including the launch of Homewards in 2023, a programme aimed at demonstrating that ending homelessness is possible.
Prince George meets service users and hears personal stories
During the visit, Prince George signed the visitors’ book on the same page signed by his father and his late grandmother on 14 December 1993, linking three generations through the same cause.
A Kensington Palace spokesperson said: “It was important to the Prince of Wales to share with Prince George the work of The Passage and to spend time volunteering alongside the team.
“They both greatly enjoyed meeting staff, volunteers and service users as well as learning more about the charity’s work.
“The dedication shown not only by The Passage but by organisations across the homelessness sector, at Christmas and throughout the year, is invaluable.”
William and George also spent time speaking with service users the Prince of Wales has met before, including Sarah and Brian, who first turned to The Passage many years ago and are now living in their own accommodation.
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: Meghan Markle Responds After GB News Presenter Apologises For False Claims About Her Mother
Reflecting on the meeting, Mr Clarke said: “Sarah and Brian first used The Passage many, many years ago, and for many years now have been safely off the streets and in their own accommodation.
“But like most of us, we know it’s not ending there – just having a roof over your head. It’s about having support networks around you.
“So they come back and use our art group. They come back and use the Irish group. And it was really genuinely very moving – firstly for William to introduce George to Brian and Sarah, and then for Brian and Sarah to explain their story.
“As Sarah beautifully put it, ‘Christmas time is a time for family. We don’t have any family, so The Passage is our family’. And that was deeply moving to hear.”
For More, Follow SurgeZirc UK On Facebook, X, Instagram, and Bluesky
