Continuing a decades-long family tradition of public service, 12-year-old Prince George recently joined his father, Prince William, in preparing a Christmas meal for London’s homeless population at The Passage charity. The engagement echoes similar outreach efforts undertaken by Princess Diana with a young Prince William, offering a poignant link between generations of royal commitment to addressing social issues. The Prince of Wales and his son’s involvement highlights the importance placed on empathy and community support within the royal family,particularly during the holiday season [[1]].
Following in his father’s footsteps, 12-year-old Prince George joined Prince William in preparing a holiday meal for the homeless at The Passage charity in central London.
Prince George followed in his father’s footsteps, echoing a tradition started by Prince William and Princess Diana. As the Christmas season approaches, the Prince of Wales brought his 12-year-old son, George, along to help prepare a festive lunch for those experiencing homelessness.
The young prince, destined to one day wear the St. Edward’s Crown, cheerfully assisted in preparing dishes for the annual Christmas meal hosted by the charity The Passage. Smiling and comfortable in a setting far removed from the grand ceremonies at Windsor, George was visibly moved when he added his signature, dated December 2025, beneath his father William’s signature from December 1993. Beside William’s signature was the familiar, rounded handwriting of Princess Diana, fondly remembered as “the People’s Princess” by former Prime Minister Tony Blair.
In the early 1990s, Princess Diana made a point of bringing William to help set the tables for the holiday meal at The Passage, offering a moment of connection to those struggling with homelessness in London. Her commitment to connecting with those on the margins earned her the title of “the People’s Princess,” as she understood, even as the 20th century drew to a close, that acts of compassion and solidarity could have a profound impact.
Diana also believed that empathy is learned early in life. She began taking William with her – not only to serve meals to those at The Passage, as young George did, but also to visit the hidden corners of Waterloo Station, then a haven for those experiencing homelessness. Now, William is passing that lesson on to his son, George: a lesson in ruling with wisdom and compassion.
Mick Clarke, CEO of The Passage, reminded George of his grandmother’s history while showing him around the center. “Your father was about your age when Princess Diana first brought him here to The Passage,” Clarke explained to George. “And what you’re doing today helps us prepare a Christmas meal for those who may not have anywhere else to celebrate.”
The Prince of Wales and his son added a festive touch to the preparations, including Aston Villa-themed crackers – a nod to their shared love of the football club. They also helped with baking desserts and decorating the Christmas tree, which was one of the trees that adorned Westminster Abbey for the “Together at Christmas” carol concert hosted by the Princess of Wales, Catherine, on December 5th. The Princess of Wales arranged for the trees to be redistributed to various charities, including The Passage, of which William is a patron, just as his mother was nearly three decades ago.
William has made addressing homelessness a key priority of his work as heir to the throne. His “Homewards” initiative, a five-year plan supported by the Royal Foundation, aims to fundamentally change the lives of those experiencing homelessness by providing housing, mental health support, education, and job training. “I truly want to build homes for them, I want to ensure they have support and mental health, education, training for a job,” the Prince explained, having already opened several new centers.
Meanwhile, the Royal Family is responding to the fallout from the release of new documents related to Jeffrey Epstein, with photos surfacing that involve Prince Andrew.
However, the holiday season brings positive news as well. Last Christmas, the Princess of Wales was recovering from illness – a key reason William decided to include George this year – and is now fully recovered. King Charles III is also reportedly responding well to treatment, with sources indicating that “treatments will be reduced in 2026,” in a surprise television announcement.
