In a recent two-part ITV documentary, Prince William addressed criticism regarding his Homewards program, aimed at combating homelessness in Britain, while also navigating questions about his privileged lifestyle. The heir to the throne faced scrutiny over his three residences and a sprawling 135,000-acre Duchy of Cornwall estate.
During the documentary titled “Prince William: We Can End Homelessness,” viewers heard LBC radio host James O’Brien relay criticisms from Graham Smith, the chief executive of the anti-monarchist group Republic. Smith argued that homelessness stems from government policy and investment rather than charity or royal involvement.
When asked about the feedback on his Homewards initiative, which is focused on demonstrating actionable solutions to end homelessness, Prince William remarked, “If I answered every critic, I’d be here all day. But you know, criticism drives you forward.” He emphasized the importance of questioning the status quo, stating, “Ultimately, we are pushing forward to deliver change, hope, and optimism to a world that frankly has had very little of it for a long time. I hope I can bring something that hasn’t been done before.”
The documentary, airing this Wednesday and Thursday, chronicles his first year after launching Homewards, featuring his visit to Nansledan, near Newquay, where the Duchy is currently developing 24 homes. “I’m not saying I’m going to solve the entire world’s homelessness problems. But I am going to show people how to prevent homelessness,” he explained.
With more than 350,000 individuals in Britain lacking permanent housing, and the number of homeless youth aged 16 to 24 surpassing 130,000, the issue is pressing. In discussions with his three children—George, Charlotte, and Louis—on their school runs in Windsor, where local authorities were tackling 101 homelessness cases earlier this year, he shared, “The first few times I thought, do I bring this up? Or should I wait and see if any of them noticed? And sure enough, they did. They were just sort of in silence after I had said what was going on.”
Prince William believes it is crucial to start conversations about homelessness early, helping children understand their surroundings and breaking the bubble of privilege they might live in. “It’s really important that you start those conversations when the children are small,” he concluded, “so that they understand the world around them and aren’t just living in their own little worlds.”