Latest news with #WeCanEndHomelessness
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Prince William Gets Candid in Emotional New Statement About Grief
I've seen Prince William open up about his mother's impact and legacy on many occasions. For instance, in his documentary, We Can End Homelessness, the royal revealed that Princess Diana inspired him to launch his Homewards initiative. Additionally, he revealed that the late princess introduced him to "life outside palace walls," ensuring that he and his brother had a normal childhood. Now, the 42-year-old royal is getting candid about his experience with grief. The Prince of Wales recently announced a merger between Child Bereavement U.K. and Winston's Wish, and in his statement, he got candid about how grief affected him during his childhood. He said, "Grief is the very worst pain any child or parent will ever endure, and while we cannot prevent these losses, we can ensure that every possible type of expert support and care is given to help rebuild the lives of those affected."Prince William, who lost his mother to a fatal car accident at just 15 years old, continued, "In my 16 years as patron of Child Bereavement U.K., I have seen the life-changing impact of their work and how the support, care and compassion provided protects the long-term health and wellbeing of those living with loss." The prince also noted that both organizations can make a bigger impact as they unite for the same cause. He said, "I have also seen the growing need for support of this kind, and it is because of this increasing demand that I am delighted that Child Bereavement U.K. and Winston's Wish are joining forces to expand their impact. They have recognized that together they can do so much more, and I commend them both for taking this bold step to reach more people and help to reduce the long-term challenges that unresolved grief can cause." Tim Graham Photo Library via Getty Images The announcement comes just a few months after the prince paid a visit to Cheshire to speak with bereaved children, and he got emotional as he opened up about his own experience after losing his mother. He said, "Sometimes the hardest thing about grief is finding the words for how you actually feel. It's crucial for those first few years, particularly, [that] you have support like this. It gets you in a practice to know how to help yourself going forward." Want all the latest royal family news sent right to your inbox? Subscribe here. Prince William Just Hired Princess Diana's Divorce Lawyers—But It's Not for the Reason You Think
Yahoo
15-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Prince William
Did you know that Prince William was the first British heir to ever be born outside of palace walls? Yep, that's right. The Prince of Wales, born to King Charles III and Princess Diana in London, is no stranger to breaking royal protocol. For instance, you've likely seen photos of the prince posing for selfies and embracing fans. But aside from greeting his loyal supporters, William has been busy juggling his official duties with charity activities and initiatives, from the Earthshot Prize to Homewards. While speaking about royal life in 2017, His Royal Highness told GQ, "You learn on the job. There is no rulebook. I sometimes wonder if there should be, but in the end I think probably not. Having that difference in how we do things makes the royal family more interesting and more flexible. If we all followed the same line, it would all be quite stifled. Our characters are different and the different opinions are important to have." Given his PDA moments with Kate Middleton and his relaxed body language at public outings, it's safe to say that Prince William is embracing the flexibility. Keep reading for all the details on the future king. Prince William was raised by his parents, Princess Diana and King Charles (formerly Prince Charles), at Kensington Palace in London. The eldest of two, the future king had an active and happy childhood, thanks to his mother breaking royal tradition and prioritizing normal experiences outside the palace. For instance, William and his younger brother, Prince Harry, got to visit beaches, amusement parks, fast food chains and charities with their mother. The family would also have weekend getaways and holiday visits at their country home, Highgrove House, per BBC. Speaking about his mother's parenting approach in the documentary We Can End Homelessness, per People, William said, 'She made sure that when [my brother and I] grew up that the life outside palace walls thing was real, you know, not just a statement. It was an actual fact.' The heir apparent to the British throne attended preschool outside of Buckingham Palace before moving on to Ludgrove School and then Eton College, where he studied geography, biology and the history of art. After graduating at just 18, Prince William took a gap year to explore places like Belize, southern Chile and Kenya, learning to speak Swahili along the way. In 2001, the prince returned to the U.K. to attend the University of St Andrews, where he earned his degree in geography. (And more importantly, where he met his future wife.) It all began in 2001, when Prince William and Kate Middleton first crossed paths as residents at St Salvator's Hall at the University of St Andrews. The two started as friends, but things changed in 2002, according to royal writer Katie Nicholl. In Vanity Fair, she revealed that the prince made his first move after spotting Middleton in a charity fashion show that year, when she modeled a see-through lace dress. A mutual friend who attended the afterparty told Nicholl, "He actually told her she was a knockout that night, which caused her to blush. There was definitely chemistry between them, and Kate had really made an impression on William. She played it very cool." The pair struck up a romance shortly after, then split up in 2007—but fortunately, it was only temporary. After two months apart, they rekindled their romance, and in 2010, the couple got engaged during their getaway to Mount Kenya in Africa. During their engagement interview with ITV News, the prince said, "At St Andrews we were friends for over a year first and it just sort of blossomed from then on. We just spent more time with each other had a good giggle, had lots of fun and realized we shared the same interests and had a really good time. She's got a really naughty sense of humour, which kind of helps me because I've got a really dry sense of humour, so it was good fun, we had a really good laugh." On April 29, 2011, William and Kate tied the knot at Westminster Abbey, and the televised ceremony garnered 162 million viewers worldwide. After they tied the knot, Prince William and his wife welcomed three children: Prince George, born July 2013, Princess Charlotte, born May 2015, and Prince Louis, born April 2018. George and Charlotte previously attended Thomas's Battersea School in London before the family moved to Windsor in 2022, and currently, all three siblings attend Lambrook School. Since becoming a dad, the royal has been quite vocal about his kids and parenting experiences. While discussing how fatherhood has changed him, Prince William told ABC News in 2016, "I'm a lot more emotional than I used to be, weirdly. I never used to get too wound up or worried about things. But now the smallest little things, you well up a little more, you get affected by the sort of things that happen around the world or whatever a lot more, I think, as a father. Just because you realize how precious life is and it puts it all in perspective." Outside of the immediate Wales family, Prince William has a niece (Princess Lilibet) and a nephew (Prince Archie), born to his brother Harry and sister-in-law Meghan Markle. However, William and his brother have been at odds since the latter stepped down from his royal duties in 2020 and followed up with a tell-all memoir. Now, the Prince of Wales and his brother rarely make joint public appearances, and he hasn't offered any comments about his brother's book. But on a brighter note, there are subtle hints that suggest the two may be on better terms privately. As for the prince's relationship history, he dated a few women before he met his wife. Rose Farquhar is considered William's first love, and though the details of their relationship haven't been confirmed, we do know that they have since maintained a close friendship—so much so that they attended each other's weddings. After Farquhar, William reportedly dated socialite Isabella Anstruther-Gough-Calthorpe and his St Andrews classmates, Olivia Hunt and Carly Massy-Birch. In 2010, the latter opened up to Vanity Fair about their romance and said, "I think that was why we had a connection," she told the magazine. "William was in the year below, and we just happened to meet through the general St. Andrews melee. It's such a small place that it was impossible not to bump into William, and after a while, there was nothing weird about seeing him around. We got on well, but I think we would have got on well even if nothing had been going on romantically." In addition, William dated Jecca Craig, whom he met in Africa during his gap year, Davina Duckworth-Chad and Arabella Musgrave. From sleek blazers and fitted trousers to jumpers and denim shirts, Prince William has mastered the art of adding a subtle, casual twist to his formal attire. Nine times out of ten, you'll spot the royal carrying out his duties in a tailored suit—courtesy of Savile Row—and he often opts for neutral colors like navy blue and gray. But when it comes to casual outings like sporting events, the royal will switch things up with trendy jackets and sneakers to blend in. For instance, in October 2024, the prince wore white trainers and played American flag football while attending an event to celebrate the third anniversary of the NFL Foundation UK. Also, in February 2025, when he visited Lower Blakemere Farm, he donned a pair of jeans and a forest green jacket with a gray news hat. (Leave it to the prince to look stylish and approachable.) Prince William is currently a patron of over 30 charities and military organizations, including the British Trust for Ornithology, the Tusk Trust, the Football Association and the Welsh Guards Charity. Oh, and did we mention that the prince has been actively involved in mental health initiatives? (He helped launch Shout, the U.K.'s first ever 24/7 text messaging service for those who struggle with mental health issues.) Back in 2006, William followed the example of his little brother, Prince Harry, by joining the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst as a military cadet, going on to complete seven-and-a-half years of military service. But aside from his impressive military career, his royal highness developed a passion for conservation, environmental causes and homelessness. In 2020, he launched the Earthshot Prize, which is typically awarded to people for their contributions to environmentalism. And in 2023, the prince teamed up with the Royal Foundation to launch Homewards, an initiative that aims to put an end to homelessness in the U.K. In his We Can End Homelessness documentary, the prince noted his mother's influence and explained, 'When I was very small my mother started talking about homelessness, much like I do now with my children on the school run. We saw people on the street. You know, when you're [that] small, you're curious, and you're kind of trying to work out what's going on. You just ask the question, like, 'Well, why are they sitting there?' And my mother would talk to us a bit about why they were there. And it definitely had a really big impact.'
The Independent
04-02-2025
- General
- The Independent
Firefighter who battled poverty and homelessness as a teenager honoured by King
A woman who battled her way out of homelessness as a teenager to become a distinguished firefighter and an adviser to the Prince of Wales has been honoured by the King. Sabrina Cohen-Hatton, chief fire officer with West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service, was awarded the King's Fire Service Medal during an investiture ceremony at Buckingham Palace on Tuesday. The medal is awarded for distinguished service or gallantry, and recognises Dr Cohen-Hatton's work at several key events including the Finsbury Park terror attack, the Westminster Bridge terror attack, and the aftermath of the Grenfell Tower fire. The 42-year-old is now advising William as part of his Homewards campaign to end homelessness in the UK, and featured in his recent ITV documentary, We Can End Homelessness. Speaking on Tuesday, Dr Cohen-Hatton told the PA news agency: 'The fire service means a huge amount to me because I feel like, as firefighters, we're trusted by people to know what to do when they're having the worst day of their lives. 'And, having gone through that and my service, being able now to advise Prince William as an advocate on Homewards, which is his programme aiming to demonstrate that it's possible to end homelessness, it's incredible. 'Because when you go through those experiences, they're awful. They're absolutely dreadful.' After the death of her father, her family sank into poverty, and she became homeless at the age of 15. When she was just 18, and after years of sleeping rough on the streets, she decided to join the fire service in South Wales, went on to attain a degree in behavioural neuroscience from Cardiff University, and became an honorary professor. Dr Cohen-Hatton, who also became an ambassador with homelessness charity The Big Issue and credits it with saving her life, said she hopes she can use her experience to 'change the narrative, so that people who are in my situation today don't have to go through that'. 'Homelessness is a really complex issue and the answer to it needs to be equally as multifaceted,' she said. Dr Cohen-Hatton also warned homelessness is becoming a bigger problem today. 'We're seeing more and more hidden homelessness as well – people staying on other people's sofas, people sleeping in their cars, not necessarily even registering themselves as experiencing homelessness – so it can be really difficult to understand the numbers. 'What we do know is that it's a problem that's growing. 'I honestly believe that the light that the Prince of Wales has been able to shine on this has been an incredible driver, helping us to raise awareness.' Dr Cohen-Hatton is also a psychologist and writer and an ambassador of Street Vet, which offers veterinary treatment to pets living with their owners on the street. Her first book, a memoir called Heat Of The Moment, was published in 2019, the year she was a guest on Desert Island Discs.
