No stranger to the Royal spotlight and media attention, Prince William is set to reveal a different aspect of himself in an upcoming documentary series.

Unlike his brother Prince Harry, who previously gave viewers a glimpse into Royal life with his wife Meghan Markle in a Netflix documentary last year, William will be championing a cause close to his heart – ending homelessness.

The new documentary, titled “Prince William: We Can End Homelessness”, will be broadcast in two parts on ITV and ITVX this Autumn.

The series will highlight the Homewards programme, a UK-wide charity initiative aimed at assisting those facing homelessness and supporting individuals with first-hand experience of street life, reports the Mirror.

Focusing on the first year of the five-year initiative, the series will document the launch of the charity and showcase the efforts of advocates and project leaders battling homelessness in six key locations: Aberdeen, Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole, Lambeth, Newport, Northern Ireland, and Sheffield.

Here’s everything you need to know about the series….

What is the series called and when will it air?

Prince William is set to take centre stage in a gripping new documentary titled “Prince William: We Can End Homelessness,” which will be broadcast in two one-hour instalments on ITV1 and ITVX later this year.

While the exact premiere date remains under wraps, it’s anticipated to grace our screens sometime between September and November.

Who’s behind the camera for this Royal series?

The production baton for this compelling series has been handed to Mindhouse, with BAFTA award-winning Director Leo Burley at the helm and Arron Fellows serving as Executive Producer. Burley is no stranger to impactful documentaries, having previously directed “The Real Mo Farah” and “My Dad, the Peace Deal and Me”.

Leo shared his insights on the project, stating: “Over the past year we have spent time following Prince William and The Royal Foundation through the first year of the Homewards programme. We’ve heard some incredibly moving stories from people across the country facing homelessness.”

He further elaborated on the breadth of the issue covered in the documentary: “From street homelessness in Newport, to families living in temporary accommodation in Sheffield, and youth homelessness in Aberdeen, the documentary paints a picture of homelessness across the UK today, working with many people who never expected to experience life without a place to call home.”

Burley also highlighted the positive impact of the Royal involvement: “Everyone we’ve filmed with has welcomed the spotlight that Prince William and Homewards are placing on the UK’s homelessness crisis.”

What drives Prince William’s deep-seated commitment to tackling homelessness?

Prince William’s commitment to ending homelessness, a cause close to his heart, can be traced back to the influence of his mother, Princess Diana.

From an early age, Diana exposed her sons to life beyond the Royal bubble, including discreet visits to homeless shelters throughout their childhood.

These experiences instilled in the young prince a deep sense of empathy and understanding, leading him to become a patron of Centrepoint, a charity dedicated to helping those living in harsh conditions.

In 2009, Prince William experienced the harsh realities of street life firsthand when he slept rough as part of a campaign to raise awareness about homelessness, according to The Guardian.

Challenged by Centrepoint’s CEO, Seyi Obakin, to spend a night on the streets, William was joined by his private secretary at the time, Jamie Lowther-Pinkerton. The experience was so authentic that they narrowly avoided being run over by a street-sweeper.

Reflecting on their eye-opening experience after spending a night on the streets, a spokesperson from St James’s Palace shared that the Royal trio barely slept, catching only brief moments of rest.

“Prince William took away from the experience the importance of tackling all the issues that cause people to be homeless and stay homeless, from drug dependency to mental health problems,” the spokesperson revealed.

When was Homewards established?

The initiative Homewards was launched by Prince William alongside The Royal Foundation in June 2023, with a clear mission to transform homelessness into an infrequent, short-lived, and non-recurring circumstance.

Homewards collaborates closely with six strategic locations throughout the UK, fostering groundbreaking approaches that can be expanded across the country. The ambition is to catalyse profound and enduring change, ultimately putting an end to homelessness once and for all.

Discover more about the charity’s initiatives here: https://homewards.org.uk/