The Prince of Wales has taken Prince George to support people experiencing homelessness in London for the first time, ahead of Christmas — continuing a long-standing royal tradition of compassion and service.
On 20 December, the Palace released images of the Prince of Wales and his eldest son visiting The Passage, one of the UK’s largest homelessness charities, where they helped prepare the organisation’s annual Christmas lunch on 16 December.
The visit marked the first occasion Prince George, 12, has taken part directly in volunteering at a site of special significance to the family.
During the morning-long engagement, father and son worked alongside volunteers to prepare food parcels, bake cupcakes, decorate a Christmas tree and speak with people using the charity’s services. George was also introduced to the personal circumstances of those supported by The Passage, and to the vital role the organisation plays for people facing homelessness and housing insecurity.
A spokesperson for Prince William said bringing George to The Passage was a way of passing on values that have shaped the Prince’s own life. The pair spent time meeting staff, volunteers and service users, learning in depth about the charity’s work — particularly during the challenging festive period.
The Passage holds deep personal meaning for William. He was first taken there at the age of 11 by his mother, the late Diana, Princess of Wales. That formative experience is widely credited with shaping William’s long-term commitment to tackling homelessness, which has since become a defining focus of his public work.
The charity is a key pillar in William’s broader mission to ensure homelessness becomes “rare, brief and non-recurring”. Alongside this, he has been involved with youth homelessness charity Centrepoint for more than two decades and recently launched the nationwide Homewards initiative. According to the Palace, lessons learned from his mother left a “deep and lasting impression”, motivating William and his wife to raise their children with an understanding of life beyond palace walls and a sense of responsibility to the wider community.
The visit took place on the same day the Royal Family attended King Charles III’s Christmas reception at Buckingham Palace. In recent years, Prince George has gradually been introduced to public duties, from attending remembrance events with his mother, the Princess of Wales, to joining community engagements focused on children and veterans.
Images of George volunteering in casual clothing have been viewed as further evidence of William’s push towards a more modern, relatable monarchy. Compared with archive photographs from 1993 — when a young William visited the same charity dressed formally in a suit — the contrast reflects a deliberate effort to present a more accessible image for the next generation.
In a symbolic moment highlighted by the Palace, George also signed the visitors’ book beneath the signatures of his father and his late grandmother — a quiet gesture underscoring continuity, legacy and the passing on of royal values.
