London , 21 December (H.S.): Prince William, the Prince of Wales, accompanied his 12-year-old son, Prince George, to The Passage charity in Westminster on December 16, perpetuating a poignant family tradition initiated by the late Princess Diana more than three decades ago.
During the visit, Prince George eagerly assisted in readying Christmas lunch for 150 individuals facing homelessness, rolling up his sleeves to prepare Yorkshire puddings while his father tackled Brussels sprouts.
The duo also baked cupcakes, assembled care packages with essentials like toiletries, socks, and snack vouchers, set tables, and decorated a Christmas tree, engaging directly with charity beneficiaries such as Sarah and Brian, a couple who met through The Passage and plan their wedding reception there.
Mick Clarke, the charity's chief executive, praised George's enthusiasm, likening it to William's, and noted his keen interest in conversing with service users.
The outing held profound symbolism: Prince George inscribed the visitors' book on the identical page bearing signatures from William and Diana dated December 1993, when William, then 11, first visited alongside his mother.
William, who became The Passage's Royal Patron in 2019, has long credited these childhood experiences—marked by unexpected warmth amid vulnerability—for inspiring his Homewards campaign, which pilots innovative solutions across six UK areas to render homelessness rare.
Clarke described the moment as a full circle spanning 1993 to 2025, underscoring the royals' intent to instill awareness of societal vulnerabilities in their children.
The Passage's Vital MissionFounded in 1980 and inspired by St Vincent de Paul, The Passage supported over 3,000 people last year amid drivers like poverty, addiction, mental health crises, domestic violence, and human trafficking risks. Kensington Palace emphasized the visit's aim: exposing George to homelessness realities and charities' year-round efforts, juxtaposed starkly against the Royal Family's Buckingham Palace Christmas lunch that same day.
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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar
