Prince William has turned homemaker, helping a tenant furnish a new flat as part of his ambitious Homewards project—a five-year initiative to make homelessness “rare, brief and unrepeated.” The heir to the throne put himself at the centre of a difficult issue that none of his family or close friends will ever have to face head-on, attracting both praise and attacks on his character.
Launched just three years ago, Homewards has already raised £7.7m in direct funding, alongside a £50m contribution from Lloyds Bank—a level of support that would be hard to achieve without a profile such as William’s. The prince has admitted the project poses difficulties in getting people, industries and governments to engage, but former prime ministers, millionaires and celebrities all want to be involved.
“Prince William helps tenant furnish flat as Homewards raises £57.7m to tackle homelessness.”
Speaking to people who have been helped directly by Homewards is an emotional experience, according to those close to the project. Without it, the pressures on the sector mean some may have fallen through the system and never found the assistance they desperately need.
The argument that the royal family sits on enormous wealth and has a plethora of homes to choose from is a thorny issue for some, especially after the King and Queen announced they would not move into Buckingham Palace after taxpayers spent nearly £400m on its renovation. But Royal HQ belongs to the country, welcoming thousands each year to public engagements, investitures and garden parties—a global monument that deserves to be kept in good order.
William’s role, and that of the King and the working royals, is to be ambassadors for the UK. Soft diplomacy and convening power carry more weight than mere words. By putting himself at the centre of a difficult issue, the Prince of Wales has an opportunity to make change for good.