Prince William has taken his 12-year-old son Prince George to a Westminster homelessness charity with deep family significance, in a visit designed to introduce him to the realities of homelessness and the organisations trying to prevent it.
The Prince of Wales brought George to The Passage, a long-established charity in central London that supports people facing or experiencing homelessness. The trip, which took place last week and was made public in the days leading into the festive period, carried a strong personal link: William was first brought to the same charity as a child by his mother, Princess Diana, in 1993.
A “full circle” visit at The Passage
According to the charity, the father-and-son visit coincided with preparations for a Christmas lunch for around 150 people being supported by the organisation. Rather than simply meeting staff and posing for photographs, George was invited to help with the practical work of getting a meal ready.
Mick Clarke, chief executive of The Passage, said the young prince arrived as volunteers were assembling the Christmas lunch and was encouraged to join in. “It was really about, ‘Are you ready to roll up your sleeves and get stuck in?’ And he very much was,” Clarke said, describing George as eager to help and attentive to the charity’s work.
There was also a touch of friendly competition between the two royals in the kitchen. Clarke said William worked on preparing sprouts for steaming, while George helped with Yorkshire puddings. The charity chief added that George appeared “very interested” in the organisation’s mission and in speaking with people who had used its services.
A visitors’ book linking three generations
One of the most symbolic moments of the visit came when Prince George signed the charity’s visitors’ book on the same page previously signed by his father and grandmother in December 1993. Clarke called it a “lovely, beautiful moment,” recalling Prince William pointing out to his son that it was his mother’s signature and explaining that Diana had first brought him to the charity as a boy.
For The Passage, the moment underscored both continuity and intention: a royal family connection spanning more than three decades, and a deliberate effort to pass on awareness of social issues to the next generation.
Why Prince William is focusing on homelessness
Prince William has spoken in the past about the impact of his early visits with Princess Diana to homelessness organisations, including The Passage. He has described feeling anxious before his first visit, expecting a sombre atmosphere—only to find a sense of warmth that challenged his assumptions.
In a previous interview reflecting on those childhood experiences, William recalled thinking that if people did not have a home they would all be “really sad,” but he was struck by how upbeat and welcoming the environment could be. He credited his mother’s approach—making people feel relaxed, joking and engaging naturally—as an influence on how he views public service.
Those memories now sit alongside William’s more formal work on the issue through Homewards, his campaign aimed at tackling homelessness in the UK. While the visit with George was framed as a personal lesson rather than a policy announcement, it also reinforced a consistent theme of William’s public agenda: moving beyond awareness to sustained involvement with organisations working on the ground.
The Passage’s role in central London
The Passage has operated in Westminster since 1980 and says it helped more than 3,000 people last year who were facing homelessness. The charity’s work includes support for people sleeping rough, those at risk of losing accommodation, and individuals rebuilding stability after periods without secure housing.
Its ethos is rooted in the tradition of the social reformer St Vincent de Paul, and its central London location places it near the heart of national institutions—an area where wealth and vulnerability can exist in close proximity.
For charities such as The Passage, the winter period is often a time of heightened demand and visibility, with seasonal pressures intersecting with longer-term challenges such as housing shortages, rising living costs, and complex needs among those seeking help.
A royal diary contrast: service and ceremony
The timing of the visit also highlighted a contrast within the royal calendar. The day William and George visited the homelessness charity reportedly coincided with the annual Royal Family Christmas lunch at Buckingham Palace—an established ceremonial moment, set against a scene of practical volunteering in a community setting.
Clarke suggested the visit reflected a broader approach by William and his family to show their children “life outside the palace” and the importance of ensuring “the most vulnerable in society are supported and looked after.”
For Prince George, the visit offered a first-hand introduction to a social issue that his father has made central to his work. For Prince William, it was a chance to connect his own childhood memories to his present-day commitments—standing in the same charity space, three decades on, and bringing his son into the story.