In a poignant continuation of a family tradition, the Prince of Wales and his eldest son, Prince George, made a surprise visit to a central London homelessness charity this week to help prepare its annual Christmas lunch.
A Family Tradition of Service
Prince William took Prince George to The Passage in Victoria, London, on Tuesday morning. The organisation holds deep personal significance for William, who first visited with his mother, the late Princess Diana, when he was just 11 years old. During this latest visit, father and son donned aprons and joined head chef Claudette in the kitchen to assist with festive meal preparations.
They also helped pack care packages, baked cupcakes, and decorated a Christmas tree that had previously stood in Westminster Abbey for the Princess of Wales's Together at Christmas carol service. In a symbolic moment, Prince George signed the charity's visitors' book on the same page his father and grandmother signed on 14 December 1993.
Fostering Awareness Beyond Palace Walls
Mick Clarke, chief executive of The Passage, who showed the royals around, said the young prince was full of questions, "very much like his dad". Clarke noted the clear intention behind the visit, stating: "Prince William has often talked about, during his childhood, how his mother talked about the importance of viewing life beyond palace walls."
"I very much picked that up with George as well," Clarke added. "And it seemed to me that this was a family that are just trying to ensure that their children are brought up with greater awareness of what is around them and the need to ensure that, particularly, the most vulnerable in society are supported and looked after."
Personal Connections and Lasting Impact
The Prince of Wales has frequently cited his childhood visit to The Passage as an experience that helped inspire his lifelong commitment to tackling homelessness. This commitment culminated in the launch of his Homewards programme in 2023, which aims to demonstrate that ending homelessness is possible.
During their visit, William and George also spent time meeting service users, including Sarah and Brian, whom William had met before. Mr Clarke described the encounter as "genuinely very moving", noting that Sarah told the princes: "Christmas time is a time for family. We don't have any family, so The Passage is our family."
A Kensington Palace spokesperson said: "It was important to the Prince of Wales to share with Prince George the work of The Passage and to spend time volunteering alongside the team." The visit underscores William's desire to educate all his children about the issue of homelessness and the vital work done by charities year-round.
