In a poignant echo of family history, Prince William and his eldest son, Prince George, spent time volunteering at a central London homeless shelter last week. Their visit to The Passage charity marked a significant moment, coming 31 years after William first attended the same centre with his mother, the late Princess Diana.
A Legacy of Service Continues
The father and son duo helped prepare a festive Christmas lunch for service users, with 12-year-old George rolling up his sleeves to make Yorkshire puddings and hang decorations. Prince William was seen cheerfully preparing Brussels sprouts and even giving a shoulder massage to a fellow volunteer. The visit was captured in a video shared by the Prince and Princess of Wales’s social media accounts.
A particularly touching gesture awaited the royal pair upon their arrival. A volunteer had placed Aston Villa Christmas crackers on the tables, a nod to the football team passionately supported by both William and George. Mick Clarke, Chief Executive of The Passage, joked about the friendly rivalry, noting his support for Tottenham and the good-natured teasing he received from the Prince of Wales.
A Historic Signature and a Proud Father
During the visit, George was invited to add his signature to the charity’s visitor book on the very same page signed by his father and grandmother in 1993. Mr Clarke described this as a "proud dad moment" for William, who was able to point to Diana’s signature and tell George, "That's my mum." William had first been brought to The Passage by Diana when he was just 11, roughly the same age George is now.
"It felt a bit like a proud dad moment," Clarke said. "William is incredibly genuine and authentic, passionate about this issue and loves The Passage. It just really felt that he was really proud to say, look, this is a place that I'm passionate about. I'm really pleased to be able to share that with you and show it to you."
Getting Stuck In and Meeting Service Users
George was given a tour of the St Vincent’s centre and briefed on the charity’s ‘No Night Out’ campaign, which aims to prevent rough sleeping through early intervention. He then enthusiastically helped volunteers assemble care packages containing around 30 items, including Greggs vouchers, toiletries, and snacks, for those unable to attend the lunch.
William also introduced his son to a couple, Sarah and Brian, who met through The Passage after being helped off the streets and are now engaged. Sarah movingly told George that Christmas is a time for family, and for them, The Passage is their family.
The young prince later helped decorate a Christmas tree donated from Westminster Abbey, following the carol service hosted by his mother, the Princess of Wales. The visit, which lasted around an hour, concluded with the pair leaving to join the wider royal family for a Christmas lunch at Buckingham Palace. They were sent away with three teddy bears, one for each of William and Kate’s children.
Reflecting on the multi-generational connection, Mick Clarke summed up the significance: "It was a lovely moment in terms of almost coming full circle from 1993 to the end of 2024."
