Prince William’s heartbreaking early memory which left him ‘anxious’

Prince William has revealed a deeply emotional memory from his childhood that’s had a profound effect on him – and left him “anxious.”

The heir to the throne admitted that a visit to a homeless charity with his mother, Princess Diana, left him feeling “anxious” and profoundly affected. In a powerful new documentary, Prince William: We Can End Homelessness, which aired on ITV on October 30 and 31, the Prince of Wales opened up about this formative experience — one that has influenced his ongoing commitment to ending homelessness in the UK.

The documentary follows William’s five-year Homewards programme, which seeks to show that homelessness can be eradicated through collaboration and innovation. William reflects on a visit to The Passage, a charity for the homeless, which Diana took him and his younger brother, Prince Harry, to when he was just 10 or 11 years old, People Magazine reports.

Talking in the documentary, he said: “My mum took Harry and me to The Passage. I must have been about 10 or 11, and I’d never been anywhere like that. I was feeling quite anxious about what to expect.” This was the Princes first exposure to homelessness and the experience had a profound impact on him.
However, Diana’s calming presence stood out to him, and she quickly made everyone feel at ease. He said: “I remember at the time kind of thinking, ‘Well, if everyone doesn’t have a home, they’re all going to be really sad.’ But it was incredible how happy an environment it was.”

That experience taught William about understanding the world and how hardship doesn’t define individuals. William reflected on meeting people who were so different from him and the life he had. In the documentary, he said: “When you’re young, you think life is just what’s in front of you. But when someone says, ‘I was living on the streets last night,’ it really hits you. It opened my eyes in a way I wasn’t prepared for.”

William has returned to The Passage multiple times, and in 2019 became its patron. His work with the charity — and the Homewards programme — stems from that early, emotional encounter with homelessness.

The Prince shared his reflections on how his mother’s early lessons around social responsibility shaped the way he views the world and his responsibility for others in it. The new documentary offers an intimate look at how this childhood experience continues to fuel his mission to make a real difference.

As the Prince uses his platform to raise awareness and drive action, Prince William: We Can End Homelessness gives a unique insight into the personal journey behind his ongoing campaign. The documentary will also feature some of the people and communities benefiting from his work to end homelessness across the UK.