Prince William is paying tribute to his late mother, Diana, Princess of Wales, by amplifying his efforts against homelessness, coinciding with what would have been her 65th birthday. Those close to William’s work have told RadarOnline.com that he is committed to continuing the compassionate approach that defined one of his mother’s most enduring charitable efforts.
The 44-year-old prince is marking the third anniversary of his Homewards initiative, which was launched in 2023 with the goal of making homelessness “rare, brief and unrepeated.”
The initiative operates across six UK locations and has already invested approximately $2.6 million through the Homewards Fund, securing an additional $4.8 million in grants and private donations.
Furthermore, $3.1 million worth of donated household goods have been used to furnish homes, more than 250 individuals have gained stable employment, and 31 people in Aberdeen have transitioned to permanent housing through this project.
William attributes his dedication to addressing homelessness to childhood visits to shelters with Diana.
A royal source noted the emotional significance of William’s recent actions, stating: “William’s latest work has always been deeply personal for him because it was his mother who first opened his eyes to homelessness as a child. Diana believed every person deserved dignity, compassion and practical support, and William sees Homewards as a continuation of those values.
“Marking what would have been her 65th birthday this year by focusing on this cause feels like the most meaningful tribute he could make, and it feels like he is really channelling her spirit with this.”
Another insider emphasized Diana’s lasting influence on William’s approach. The source remarked: “Diana transformed public attitudes by treating people experiencing homelessness with warmth and humanity rather than judgment. William has inherited the belief that lasting change comes from listening, bringing people together, and challenging the systems that allow vulnerable people to fall through the cracks. William wants her legacy to be measured not just in memories, but in lives changed.”
Diana, who died in Paris in 1997 at the age of 36 in a high-speed crash, was known for using her public profile to advocate for marginalized communities.
In addition to her work on homelessness, she supported organizations helping people with HIV and AIDS, campaigned against landmines, visited hospitals globally, and worked with charities aiding children, cancer patients, and those affected by leprosy.
Her readiness to embrace those often overlooked by society played a part in redefining the modern role of the monarchy.
In a speech marking three years of Homewards, William argued that homelessness should not be seen solely as an individual responsibility. He stated, “Homelessness is not an individual failure; it is a systemic failure. And, if systems help create the problem, then systems can help prevent it.
“By trialling new approaches, Homewards is demonstrating how prevention can be embedded across every part of our society. Proving that our true strength emerges not in isolation, but in a shared purpose that makes us greater than the sum of our parts.”
William has previously spoken about the profound impact of accompanying Diana to shelters as a boy. More recently, he has involved his eldest son, Prince George, in similar activities, such as serving Christmas dinner at The Passage, a homelessness charity, illustrating his intention to pass these values to the next generation.
Hazel Detsiny, executive director for homelessness at the Royal Foundation, noted the project’s meaningful progress, stating: “We’re only at the halfway point, but we are now seeing green shoots and clear evidence of what works in practice to prevent homelessness and how we can then move on to deliver at scale over the next years.”
