The Prince of Wales might have been dubbed the Prince of Cuddles today, after he doled out several warm embraces to well-wishers who’d waited patiently to meet him during a whistle-stop tour of Ireland and Scotland.
The royal, 41, is currently on a two-day tour of the UK to mark the start of his new campaign Homewards – which aims to put an end to homelessness in the UK.
After he visited a charity in Belfast this morning, he spent time chatting to those who’d lined up to meet him outside…and promptly discarded any form of royal protocol in favour of hugging several people.
After visiting Mosaic Clubhouse in Lambeth yesterday, the royal travelled to Northern Ireland to learn more about the work of the East Belfast Mission, housed in the Skainos Centre in the city.
This afternoon, it was on to Scotland, where the Prince – known north of the border as the Duke of Rothesay – continued his fact-finding mission at the Tillydrone Community Campus in Aberdeen.
In Belfast on Tuesday morning, Prince William was embraced by an enthusiastic well-wisher who flung her arms around the 41-year-old royal, telling him: ‘It’s lovely to see you’
After planting a kiss on his cheek, the pair laughed, with William telling the lady: ‘I’ll get in big trouble’. And shortly after, there was another hugger waiting in the wings
She then planted a kiss on William’s cheek, to which he responded: ‘You’ve started something now… I’ll get in big trouble’.
Earlier, in Belfast, William took to the streets to meet the royal fans who’d turned out – and found himself receiving a kiss while there.
Sensing an opportunity, one lady, wearing a bright yellow jacket, took her chance to hug the Prince, reaching out both of her arms around his neck and saying: ‘It’s lovely to see you’.
And the lady had indeed started something; immediately afterwards, another fan stepped up for a hug – and the royal duly obliged.
The Prince of Wales, known as the Duke of Rothesay in Scotland, pictured in the library at the Tillydrone Community Campus in Aberdeen with young children on Tuesday afternoon
Eyes on the action: Prince William watches two youngsters playing air hockey at the centre
The father-of-three joined a reading time session with youngsters at the creche housed in the Tillydrone Community Campus
The Prince’s new five-year initiative will look at joined up community support services can improve early intervention and prevent homelessness (The royal meeting volunteers at the Tillydrone Community Campus today)
The royal smiles as he chats to a young girl at the Campus on Tuesday afternoon
The Prince of Wales listened intently as he was told about the work going on in the local community, and the challenges faced in eradicating homelessness
An engaged Prince William chats to those involved at the Aberdeen centre, which opened in 2019 to support the local community
A volunteer talks Prince William through some of the ongoing projects at the charity
William looked in jovial mood as he waved to fans waiting outside the East Belfast Mission at the Skainos Centre in Belfast on Tuesday
This afternoon it was on to Scotland, where the Prince continued his affection towards the people of Aberdeen, taking time to shake the arm of a toddler in the crowd after he left the Tillydrone Community Campus
The 41-year-old, who was travelling without the Princess of Wales, then posed with the mother and her young son
Braving the rain this morning, the Prince of Wales was dressed in a pair of navy chinos, a light blue shirt and a cream blazer.
He was officially welcomed to the Northern Ireland capital by Lord Lieutenant Dame Fionnuala Jay-O’Boyle as well as Belfast Lord Mayor Ryan Murphy and East Belfast MP Gavin Robinson.
During the visit, Prince William met with charity workers who have been asked to form a coalition with Homewards and participated in a round-table discussion.
Beforehand, the royal was filmed shaking hands and chatting to those waiting outside the charity, including one who appeared to be singing the praises of the charity’s on-site Refresh Cafe.
Selfie time: William posed up a storm as smartphone after smartphone came his way
Homeward, Williams’ five-year programme delivered by the Royal Foundation, will see the Prince of Wales visiting charities who fight homelessness in the UK in the coming days
After a quick hop east from Ireland to Scotland, the royal arrived in Aberdeen just before lunch
Flanked by an official in traditional Scottish dress, Prince William waved at the gathered crowds in Aberdeen
The royal put his arm on the shoulder of a young man as he posed for a photo outside the Aberdeen-based charity
Smile! The Prince spent time taking dozens of selfies with those who’d gathered at the campus
He asked: ‘Have you been for a fry up?’ William then replied: ‘There’s a fry-up waiting for people! I’ve got to get out there.’
Following the cheeky interaction, the man then got the crowd cheering from William.
In Aberdeen this afternoon, he was shown around the Tillydrone Community Campus to watch various activities taking place including cooking classes, NHS services and nursery sessions.
William was joined by Homewards advocate, David Duke, who founded Street Soccer Scotland and Street Soccer London after playing for Scotland at the Homeless World Cup, while sleeping rough.
The Prince of Wales appeared in great spirits this morning as he took part in a walkabout in Belfast
Prince William seen shaking hands with a royal fan who asked if he had had a fry-up in Belfast this morning
Prince William was unphased by a woman holding a crying baby in the very front of the crowds
The People’s Prince! William seen hugging a royal fan during the walkabout in Belfast this morning
He also met refugee Mehrshad Esfandiari from Iran who used the services, and now owns his own home.
William spoke with Grainia Long, Northern Ireland Housing Executive chief executive, who afterwards said the partnership has the potential to be ‘transformational’.
‘The discussion this morning with Prince William, members of The Royal Foundation and local partner organisations, confirmed that we share a real and a longstanding commitment to work together to improve the lives of those people who are struggling to find a place to call home,’ she said.
‘We share the same vision and are all equally optimistic that we can end homelessness here in Northern Ireland.’
The Prince of Wales has set his sights on making rough sleeping, sofa surfing and other forms of temporary accommodation a ‘rare, brief and unrepeated’ issue.
The royal has taken inspiration from Finland, where the problem of homelessness has been virtually eradicated, with his new initiative called Homewards.
William’s new five-year project will focus on six locations to begin with and local businesses, organisations and individuals will be encouraged to join forces and develop ‘bespoke’ action plans to tackle homelessness with up to £500,000 in funding.
The father-of-three was all smiles as he spoke with a young royal fan outside The East Belfast Mission headquarters
Pictured: Prince William meeting members of the of at the Refresh Cafe during a visit to the East Belfast Mission
Prince William also took particular interest in this royal fan and his adorable dog during the walkabout
The Prince of Wales kneeled down slightly to give a young royal fan a handshake during the walkabout
The Prince of Wales visited Northern Ireland today as part of his two-day tour of the UK to promote his new initiative Homewards
Pictured: Prince William meets initial members of the coalition being built through Homewards, as together they start on the path towards ending homelessness in Northern Ireland
Prince William seen meeting with members of the East Belfast Mission today as part of his campaign to end homelessness in the UK
Prince of Wales was dressed in a pair of navy chinos, a light blue shirt and a cream blazer as he braved the rain
The Prince of Wales at the Skainos Centre in Belfast, as part of his tour of the UK to launch a project aimed at ending homelessness
Today, in Northern Ireland, Prince William learned about the East Belfast Mission’s ‘240’ housing project – which has seen the charity turn an empty building into a community relations space, which also contains six apartments.
Yesterday, the Prince of Wales also visited the Hill Street Development – which will be partnering up with Homewards – in Newport, Wales.
The future king has become increasingly passionate about the issue of homelessness in the UK – having been first taken to visit the charity The Passage by his late mother Princess Diana.
Announcing his new project on Sunday, the Prince of Wales: ‘In a modern and progressive society, everyone should have a safe and secure home, be treated with dignity and given the support they need.
The Prince of Wales pictured arriving at the Hill Street Development in Newport yesterday afternoon
The royal (pictured) has taken inspiration from Finland, where the problem of homelessness has been virtually eradicated, with his new initiative called Homewards
The Prince of Wales seen meeting charity workers at the Hill Street Development in Newport yesterday
The Prince of Wales has become increasingly passionate about the issue of homeless ness in the UK
‘Through Homewards, I want to make this a reality and over the next five years, give people across the UK hope that homelessness can be prevented when we collaborate.’
Ahead of the campaign launch, Prince William met with footballers David Duke and Tyrone Mings, firefighter Sabrina Cohen-Hatton and TV star Gail Porter – who have all experienced homelessness.
He continued: ‘I am fortunate to have seen first-hand the tireless work of people and organisations across the sector, the tangible impact their efforts can have and what can be done when communities are able to focus on preventing homelessness, rather than managing it.
‘It’s a big task, but I firmly believe that by working together it is possible to make homelessness rare, brief, and unrepeated and I am very much looking forward to working with our six locations to make our ambition a reality.’
Prince William pictured with Tyrone Mings, Sabrina Cohen-Hatton, Gail Porter and David Duke – who have experiences of homelessness and have pledged to support Homewards
The six chosen areas, which includes one in London, were selected after a bidding process and the findings and results of the initiative will be used to create models that can adopted by other parts of the UK.
According to the charity Crisis, which is partnering with Homewards, there are an estimated 300,000 people currently experiencing homelessness in the UK.
The charity’s chief executive Matt Downie cited a ‘severe shortage of genuinely affordable homes,’ rising rents, the increasing cost of living, years of low wages and insecure work as some of the factors which have contributed to this issue.
He said: ‘Homelessness is not inevitable, as a provider of services to thousands of people across Britain every year.
‘We know that in most cases it’s preventable, and in every case it can be ended.’
‘The best way to tackle homelessness is to stop it happening in the first place. We’ve seen it in other countries such as Finland, where homelessness is all but ended, and we’ve seen it when we follow innovative programmes that give people housing first.
‘We know we can do the same here with the right choices and by working together.
‘With levels of homelessness only set to increase innovative programmes like Homewards are more necessary than ever.’
A new survey commissioned by the Royal Foundation revealed one in five of 3,473 adults questioned in May have some personal experience of homelessness either directly (9%) or via family (8%) or friends (7%).
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