Prince William visited a homeless shelter his mother, Princess Diana, frequently supported when she was still alive. The Duke of Cambridge went to The Passage in London three times in November and devoted his time to pack and distribute food for the vulnerable sector.
The Passage announced Tuesday that Prince William came to the center at different instances just before the Christmas season. The Rooftop shared a photo of the Duke of Cambridge as he helped with packing the food inside paper bags while observing social distancing and wearing a face mask and apron.
William also spoke with some of the homeless people seeking temporary shelter at the facility. He asked about their experiences amid the coronavirus lockdown. Sources said that, for years, William usually goes to the shelter unannounced just to talk to the residents and listen to their concerns and problems.
In another instance, the Duke of Cambridge volunteered to cook hot meals for some of the homeless who had to be transferred to emergency accommodation during the lockdown. In total, the charity's initiative, partly with William's help, provided over 70,000 meals to the vulnerables in 2020.
William was named the patron of The Passage in 2019, but he has been visiting the center since his mother first brought him there nearly 27 years ago. The Duke of Cambridge still recalls that first visit because it left a lasting impression on him as a 10-year-old child.
In 2018, William told TV icon, Mary Berry, that his mother believes her children must be aware of what really goes on "beyond the palace walls" with people struggling with life's real issues like hunger and homelessness. The second in line to the throne said that he hopes to pass on this valuable outlook from his mother to his children, Princess George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis. His older kids have been asking him about the people who live on the streets because the kids see them when they go to school in the morning.
The royal was able to visit The Passage in February, just before the world shut down due to the pandemic. He was seen rolling up his sleeves and joining the other volunteers in the kitchen to prepare the lunch meals for the homeless.
Meanwhile, William is currently isolating at Anmer Hall in Norfolk with his wife, Kate Middleton, the Duchess of Cambridge, and their children, as the U.K.'s third nationwide lockdown goes into effect. The Cambridges are likely to stay in the country until the middle of February.
