Prince William today celebrated his wife Kate’s work with young children as he took part in a conference to help end homelessness.
The Prince of Wales chimed in with selfies from well-wishers and praised a former rough sleeper who turned his life around as “brave” for telling his story.
William, 41, took part in a Homewards Sheffield Local Coalition meeting at the Millennium Gallery in the South Yorkshire city to discuss ways to end homelessness.
When Kate Josephs, CEO of Sheffield City Council, broached the subject of childhood, William immediately commented on the success of Kate’s projects in the early years.
He held out his palms and smiled. “That’s my wife’s room, she has to sit here.”
Prince William is attending a meeting of the Homewards Sheffield Local Coalition in Sheffield today
When Kate Josephs (left), CEO of Sheffield City Council, broached the subject of childhood, William immediately commented on the success of Kate’s projects in the early years.
William is attending a Homewards Sheffield meeting today at the Millennium Gallery in Sheffield
The prince arrived in central Sheffield by car and walked through the Winter Garden – an urban greenhouse.
Leigh Stinchcombe, 33, grabbed William for a selfie and said afterwards he was a ‘big fan’ of the prince.
William held Leigh’s coffee mug and helped with the phone, then gently patted him on the shoulder and shook his hand.
Sitting with the coalition in the Millennium Gallery conference room, William heard from project officer Chris Lynam, 41, who described how he had turned his life around after ending up homeless and then in prison seven years ago.
William said: ‘I just want to say how brave you are to tell your story here, it’s amazing where you are.’
The prince asked his aides for Mr Lynam’s contact details so they could keep in touch.
William also asked the experts for their views on the extent of family homelessness in the city of Sheffield and the impact of drug addiction in leading to rough sleeping.
He also discussed how early intervention can change lives and asked Mr Lynam to explain during his ‘journey’ the moments when people ‘stepped in’ to help.
William looked animated and said, “You know this better than me, but there is no one solution that fits all. I think of it almost as an umbrella and all your ideas, wisdom and experiences together, and we can blend in and produce something.”
Two members of the coalition grabbed William after he left the room to bend his ear to their ideas to end homelessness.
Mr Lynam, who also served in the navy and spent time in prison for crimes including arson and burglary, said afterwards: ‘He was a nice man and really listened. I liked him.’