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The Prince of Wales has opened up about feeling guilty over the homelessness crisis in Britain in a new documentary. As the heir to the throne, William revealed his deep commitment to tackling homelessness, which was inspired by childhood visits to shelters with his late mother Princess Diana.
In the two-part ITV documentary titled "Prince William: A Planet For Us All", William offered a rare glimpse into his efforts to address this pressing social issue through his own initiative called The Prince's Foundation. The series highlighted the first year of The Foundation's homelessness program and showcased William's personal connection to the cause.
The 40-year-old recalled his first visit to a homeless shelter at the young age of 11, an experience that left a lasting impact on him. "I remember at the time kind of thinking well if everyone has not got a home they're all going to be really sad but it was incredible how happy an environment it was," William reminisced.
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However, William admitted that over the years as he learned more about the complexities of homelessness in Britain, he began feeling guilty each time he left a shelter without doing more to help. "I've spent enough time learning and listening to what people have been through that I feel almost guilty every time I leave that I'm not doing more to help," he said.
This strong sense of responsibility and desire to take action informed William's commitment to incorporate tackling homelessness into his royal work. "I feel compelled to act because I don't want to just talk about it," he stated. William aims to prove through The Foundation's initiatives that homelessness can be prevented on a large scale to inspire others to follow suit.
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The documentary also offered a rare mention of William's brother Prince Harry. In what seemed to be an olive branch amid their reported family feud, William fondly recalled taking Harry to the same homeless shelter as children with their mother Diana. This marked one of the few times William has publicly discussed Harry since he stepped back from royal duties and moved to the US.
William acknowledged drawing inspiration from Diana's approach to raising awareness around homelessness and other social issues. "I have taken some inspiration and guidance from what my mother did, particularly with homelessness and that's grown more over the last few years," he shared.
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Diana famously brought both William and Harry on numerous private visits to organizations supporting vulnerable communities. Just as his mother had years ago, William now discusses homelessness with his own children George, Charlotte and Louis on their school runs. "When I was very small my mother started talking about homelessness much like I do now with my children," he said.
Through The Foundation, William has carefully considered how to responsibly incorporate his platform to maximize impact on ending homelessness. "I have slowly tried to work out what I can bring to the role of heir to the throne, what do I feel works, what do I feel people want to see from me," he explained. Over the past decade, William's understanding of the issue has evolved from his childhood awareness through Diana to a nuanced comprehension as a senior royal.
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By publicly sharing his motivations and spotlighting on-the-ground initiatives, William hopes to not only advance solutions but also shift perceptions of homeless individuals. The documentary presented his vision of a future with no more need for night shelters. Though the challenge remains immense, William's royal convening power and passionate commitment gives hope that one day his "planet for all" may become reality.
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