Prince William fronts new documentary on homelessness initiative

Prince William is stepping in front of the camera, providing a rare, behind-the-scenes glimpse into one of his most ambitious initiatives.

The Prince of Wales' Homewards program, dedicated to ending homelessness, will be featured in a compelling two-part ITV documentary series airing on ITV1 and ITVX this fall.

Titled "Prince William: We Can End Homelessness," the series will chronicle the first year of this five-year initiative. Viewers will follow Prince William, 42, as he launches Homewards across the U.K., capturing the stories of individuals currently facing homelessness and those with lived experience.

The documentary will also highlight the efforts of notable advocates and project leaders working to combat homelessness in six key locations: Aberdeen, Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole, Lambeth, Newport, Northern Ireland, and Sheffield.

William's commitment to ending homelessness is deeply rooted in the values instilled in him by his mother, Princess Diana. From a young age, Diana made it a point to expose her sons to the realities of life outside the royal bubble. She believed in the importance of compassion and empathy, often taking William and his brother, Prince Harry, on unpublicized visits to homeless shelters.

These experiences left a lasting impression on William, shaping his understanding of homelessness and fueling his desire to make a difference. Like his mom, he became a patron of Centrepoint, a homeless charity.

The series is helmed by BAFTA award-winning director Leo Burley, who stated: “Over the past year we have spent time following Prince William and The Royal Foundation through the first year of the Homewards program. We’ve heard some incredibly moving stories from people across the country facing homelessness.

"From street homelessness in Newport, to families living in temporary accommodation in Sheffield, and youth homelessness in Aberdeen, the documentary paints a picture of homelessness across the UK today, working with many people who never expected to experience life without a place to call home. Everyone we’ve filmed with has welcomed the spotlight that Prince William and Homewards are placing on the UK’s homelessness crisis.”

Founded by Prince William and The Royal Foundation in June 2023, Homewards aims to make homelessness rare, brief, and non-recurrent. By working with six locations across the U.K., the program develops innovative solutions that can be scaled nationwide. The initiative seeks to drive lasting change and end homelessness for good.

William previously said he has an open dialogue with his children about the issue of homelessness. The Prince of Wales — who is father to Prince George, 10, Princess Charlotte, 9, and Prince Louis, 6, with his wife Kate Middleton — shared that he talks about homelessness with his kids “on the school run.”

“On the school run, we talk about what we see. Driving backwards and forwards [in London], we regularly used to see people sitting outside supermarkets and we’d talk about it,” William told The Sunday Times.

The prince, 40, said he asks his children: 'Why are they there? What’s going on?’' and added that the discussions are important for his family. “I think it’s in all our interests, it’s the right thing to do, to expose the children, at the right stage, in the right dialogue, so they have an understanding,” he continued.

“They [will] grow up knowing that actually, some of us are very fortunate, some of us need a helping hand, some of us need to do more and help others improve their lives,” William said.

In addition to the documentary, Homewards is announcing a groundbreaking exhibition, leveraging the power of art to deepen understanding of homelessness and inspire optimism about ending it.

The Saatchi Gallery, in collaboration with Homewards and the Eleven Eleven Foundation, will host Homelessness: Reframed this summer. This art exhibition will showcase the complexities of homelessness across the country and provide the public an opportunity to engage with the stories of those affected.