I’ll build social housing on my land after a visit with my mother inspired me to end homelessness, says Prince William
PRINCE William has revealed he is set to build social housing on his land after being inspired by his mum.
The Prince of Wales says he wants to make it his mission to end homelessness in the UK.
In an interview with The Sunday Times, William said that he will launch a “really big project” to take on the issue.
However, the details of the five-year project are being kept secret until the end of the month.
“It’s nerve-racking. But I’m really excited. I’ve been waiting for the right time to do this.”
But William did reveal that there are social housing plans for the Duchy of Cornwall, the 130,000-acre property empire he now controls after becoming the Prince of Wales.
He said: “You’ll see that when it’s ready. I’m no policy expert, but I push it where I can.”
The prince has previous experience tackling homelessness. He is the patron of Centrepoint, a charity which helps homeless young people.
Earlier this week, he officially opened Reuben House, a block of 33 studio properties in south-east London where rents are set at a third of a resident’s income, on behalf of the charity.
And William said the reason he is so passionate about the subject is because of his mother – Princess Diana.
The prince, who is patron of the homelessness charities Centrepoint and the Passage, was 11 when Diana first took him to a homeless shelter in London.
William also spoke about his plans to introduce his children to a homeless organisation.
“When I left this morning, one of the things I was thinking was, ‘When is the right time to bring George or Charlotte or Louis to a homeless organisation?'” he said.
“I think when I can balance it with their schooling, they will definitely be exposed to it. On the school run, we talk about what we see.
“When we were in London, driving backwards and forwards, we regularly used to see people sitting outside supermarkets and we’d talk about it.”
It comes as William’s kids stole the show at the Trooping of the Colour.
Prince Louis reprised his naughty antics while en route to the ceremony – before covering his ears and stretching his arms as he stood on the balcony of Buckingham Palace during the RAF flypast.
As a toddler, the prince earned the nation’s love with his cheeky antics on the Buckingham Palace balcony during the Platinum Jubilee – when he covered his ears up and jumped up and down.
The fidgety youngster was also seen trying to distract his sister Charlotte during King Charles’s Coronation.
Today Kate and the Royal kids were all smiles as they waved to crowds at King Charles’ first Trooping the Colour parade.
The event, which was rescheduled for today following bad weather last month, celebrated Charles’ birthday.