Prince William personally helped furnish a flat for a housing association tenant in Aberdeen, underscoring his commitment to the Homewards initiative, which aims to eradicate homelessness. The visit marked the third anniversary of the project, which has supported over 73 people into stable housing and 250 into employment.
William, known as the Duke of Rothesay in Scotland, carried a dining room chair up three flights of stairs to the one-bedroom property on the city's outskirts. Staff from Langstane Housing Association assisted with other items before giving him a tour of the accommodation. Earlier, in a speech at London’s Tate Modern, he highlighted the progress since launching Homewards in 2023, emphasizing that the initiative has reached thousands before they reached crisis.
The project, funded by The Royal Foundation, operates in six areas across the UK, including Bournemouth, Christchurch, Poole, Lambeth, Newport, Northern Ireland, and Sheffield. Aberdeen is the only Scottish location. William joked with staff about household items, including air fryers, and expressed hope that the furniture would stay intact. Tenant Erin, who received one of the homes, expressed delight with her new accommodation.
William has long advocated for homelessness causes, inspired by his mother, the late Princess Diana. He believes homelessness is a systemic issue that can be addressed through support, funding, and mentoring. The project aims to create a blueprint over five years to prevent homelessness, with measurable signs of change already observed in the six locations. In May, William announced plans to sell parts of his inherited estate to invest in affordable homes, further supporting the initiative.