December 6th 2024.
Yesterday afternoon, Prince William made a surprise appearance at a local canteen. It's not every day that you have the future king of England serving you vegetables, and it certainly wasn't on anyone's bingo cards. But that's exactly what happened when Prince William visited a homelessness charity in London, a place that was often visited by his late mother, Princess Diana.
Leo Scanlon, a regular at The Passage, was one of the lucky few who got to meet the prince and chat with him while he was serving Christmas dinners. Leo described William's visit as a "press-free" one, where he spent about an hour aproned up and shoveling veggies for the roughly hundred people he served. Leo, who has experienced homelessness himself, shared his thoughts about the prince's visit with the MailOnline.
"When you are homeless, you quickly feel like you're on the edge of society and it's scary how you can become invisible. People start to see you as just street furniture and not as a person," Leo said. He was touched by William's genuine care and concern for those at the bottom of society, and was grateful that the prince took the time to visit without it being a mere photo opportunity.
William first visited The Passage when he was just 11 years old, introduced to the charity by his beloved mother. Since then, he has been a regular visitor and has even become the patron of the charity. There were whispers that he would make an appearance at the Christmas lunch, and sure enough, he did. Leo was only half-surprised when he saw the Duke of Cornwall arrive around 1:30pm, ready to help out for the hour-long service.
Leo described The Passage canteen as a potentially hostile environment, with many people struggling with mental health issues or language barriers. But William handled the situation with grace and kindness, speaking to everyone and even posing for selfies. Leo was so overwhelmed by the prince's presence that he accidentally swore, but William just laughed it off and said, "Don't worry, my language is terrible too!"
Leo was impressed by the fact that William had no airs and graces about him. Everyone at The Passage simply called him "William" and there was no need for formal titles. The prince was fully present and engaged with everyone he spoke to, even going out of his way to find someone who got lost in the rush of the afternoon.
"The way Prince William spoke to all of us, especially to this man who was lost, was so genuine and it meant a lot," Leo shared. "He wasn't doing it for a photo opportunity or to look good. He genuinely cared about what this man had to say." Homelessness has been a growing issue in London, with the number of homeless people more than tripling since 2008. William, who owns several homes himself, has taken on a five-year project called Homewards to eradicate homelessness in six locations.
The prince has made it clear that he wants to use his position and influence to make a positive impact in the world and help those in need. His visit to The Passage was just one example of his dedication to this cause. Leo and many others were grateful for William's kindness and compassion, and it's clear that his actions spoke louder than any words.
[This article has been trending online recently and has been generated with AI. Your feed is customized.]
[Generative AI is experimental.]
