Prince William, the 42-year-old heir to the British throne, made a surprise appearance in Monaco alongside Thomas van Straubenzee, a childhood friend and godfather to Princess Charlotte, to watch Aston Villa’s Champions League group stage fixture. Known for his commitment to social causes, Prince William is the patron of Centrepoint, a charity providing support to homeless young people, for the past two decades. His visit comes as part of his broader efforts to combat homelessness through initiatives like the Homewards project, launched in 2023.
Prince William has a long-standing relationship with Centrepoint, a charity offering 17 beds for young people aged 16 to 25. The organization not only provides shelter but also engages its service users in activities aimed at helping them regain stability. Prince William’s involvement with Centrepoint dates back to his childhood when he accompanied his mother, Diana, Princess of Wales, on visits to shelters.
During a recent visit to Centrepoint, Prince William tried his hand at boxing, an activity he admitted had been "a while" since he last practiced.
"I might get back into boxing! It's been a while, a long time actually, but it's seriously hard work." – William
His dedication to addressing homelessness is also evident through the Homewards project, which aims to eradicate homelessness by making it rare, brief, and unrepeated. A spokesperson for the initiative noted Prince William's commitment and highlighted the project's progress across six locations.
"As you all know, Homewards is now in its second year and The Prince is focussed on the action that can take place across the six locations. He will no doubt take inspiration from the innovative approach he saw at Centrepoint today." – A spokesperson
In addition to his philanthropic endeavors, Prince William is an avid supporter of Aston Villa Football Club. His passion for the team was on full display during his surprise visit to Monaco and a prior unannounced appearance at a Birmingham pub last week. At the Wetherspoons pub in New Street Station, he surprised fellow Aston Villa fans by buying a round of drinks.
One supporter, Steve, recounted his interaction with the prince.
"Young George is a Villa fan but he didn't want all three [children] to be Villa fans. He was massively interested and seemed like a really genuine guy and all he wanted to do was talk about Villa." – Steve
Prince William’s connection with Thomas van Straubenzee dates back to their days at Ludgrove prep school. The two have maintained a close friendship over the years, underscoring the prince's penchant for long-lasting relationships and commitments.
