Prince William and Prince George Carry on Princess Diana's Legacy with Christmas Visit – Details

Prince William didn’t arrive with ceremony, and Prince George didn’t come to be photographed. Instead, father and son quietly stepped into a London homeless shelter, echoing a moment from William’s own childhood, and images later in this story reveal why the visit struck such a chord.

The Prince of Wales and the 12-year-old future king spent time this week volunteering at The Passage, a long-established homeless charity in central London, as it prepared for its annual Christmas lunch.

The visit was deliberately low-key, focused on service rather than ceremony, and captured in a short video later shared by Kensington Palace.

In the reel, Prince George is seen putting on an apron, carefully arranging pastries in a tub, hanging Christmas decorations, and helping to ready the space for guests.

In another moment, Prince William carries a large tub of Brussels sprouts, while elsewhere he pauses to gently massage a woman’s shoulder as they talk, a small, human gesture that spoke volumes.

This was not a one-off festive photo opportunity.

For Prince William, The Passage holds deep personal meaning. He first visited the charity in December 1993, when he was just 11 years old, brought there by his mother, the late Princess of Wales.

At the time, Diana was determined that her sons understand life beyond palace walls, exposing them to homelessness, poverty and vulnerability at an age when most royal children were carefully shielded from such realities.

That early visit left a lasting mark.

In a documentary released last year, William reflected candidly on the experience, admitting he had felt anxious beforehand. “I’d never been to anything like that before,” he said.

“I remember having some good conversations just playing chess and chatting. That’s when it dawned on me that there are other people out there who don’t have the same life as you do," he added.

Three decades later, the lesson is being passed on.

During this week’s visit, Prince George signed The Passage’s visitors’ book, adding his name to the very same page previously signed by both his father and his late grandmother, according to a palace source. The symbolism was deliberate and unmistakable.

The pair also spent time speaking with individuals who have experienced homelessness, listening as staff and service users explained how the charity had supported them.

Kensington Palace said it was important to the Prince of Wales that his son not only learn about homelessness in theory, but experience volunteering alongside those working on the front line.

“It was important to The Prince of Wales to share with Prince George the work of The Passage and to spend time volunteering alongside the team,” a palace spokesperson said. They added that both father and son “greatly enjoyed meeting staff, volunteers and service users.”

The moment did not go unnoticed beyond the walls of the shelter.

The images prompted an immediate and emotional response online, with many reflecting on how quickly Prince George is growing up.

One viewer wrote, “Can’t believe he’s going to be 13 in a few months 😮😮😮” while another echoed the sentiment, “Can't believe how fast the time flies... it's like Prince George was born yesterday and he's already young man 🙂” [sic].

For others, the moment carried a deeper meaning, rooted in memory and legacy. “His grandmother Diana would be so proud,” one person commented.

Several focused on how George carried himself during the visit, noting both his nerves and his composure. One wrote, “Well done Prince William and Prince George he looked a little nervous at first, but soon settled in. A chip of the old block!! So lovely to see them both following a family tradition❤️Modern Royals 👑❤️❤️❤️”

Praise also extended to the values on display, with one admirer remarking that George is “really becoming a wonderful, handsome young man with a look of keen respect and responsibility on his face,” adding, “Bravo to the parents! God bless you all at Christmas and many years forward. ❤️”

Others simply marvelled at how much he has grown, with comments including “Prince George is looking gorgeous-certainly growing up to be a handsome young man” and “OMG George has grown so big! it‘s so nice to see him doing the same things like his dad.” [sic]

For the family, the visit carried a more personal meaning.

For Prince George, the visit may one day be remembered much as his father remembers his own first encounter with the charity, not as a royal engagement, but as a formative moment.

For Prince William, it was another step in weaving his mother’s humanitarian instincts into the next generation.

And for those at The Passage that day, it was simply a pair of extra hands, helping where they were needed most. Below, see the moments from inside The Passage that captured this quiet exchange between father, son, and community:

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