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At just 12 years old, Prince George has followed a touching path laid out by his grandmother, Princess Diana. In a poignant pre-Christmas visit, the young royal joined his father, Prince William, at The Passage, a homelessness charity in central London, where he rolled up his sleeves to work and shared a deeply emotional moment regarding his family’s legacy.
The Signature That Stopped Time
The most moving part of the visit occurred when George was asked to sign the visitors’ book. The charity staff had opened the book to a specific page from 1993—the very page signed by Princess Diana and a then-11-year-old Prince William.
Noticing a gap on the page, William encouraged his son to sign it. It was a “full circle” moment, 32 years in the making. According to Mick Clarke, the charity’s chief executive, Prince George was fascinated by seeing his grandmother’s handwriting, reacting with a genuine: “Wow. Ok.”
Mr. Clarke described it as a “proud dad moment,” noting how William pointed out the signature, telling George, “That’s my mum. And this was the very first day that she took me to The Passage.”
Getting “Stuck In” to Christmas Prep
George didn’t just show up for a photo op; he went to work. The young Prince helped prepare the annual Christmas lunch for those without a home.
* Kitchen Duty: While Prince William prepped Brussels sprouts for the steamer, George was busy preparing Yorkshire puddings.
* Care Packages: Earlier, George helped volunteers assemble care parcels containing around 30 essential items, including toiletries, socks, snack bars, and £10 Greggs vouchers.
* Decorating: He helped decorate a Christmas tree that had been donated by Westminster Abbey following his mother, the Princess of Wales’, carol service—a detail Mr. Clarke noted had a “nice synergy.”
Mr. Clarke observed that George was “well up for it,” noting, “He was very much like his dad in terms of he just wanted to crack on.”
Football Banter and Family Vibes
The atmosphere was described as relaxed and filled with banter, particularly regarding football. One volunteer had placed Aston Villa Christmas crackers on the tables—a nod to the team supported by William and George.
Mr. Clarke, a Tottenham fan, admitted he was “mercilessly teased” by William about it. “There is a lot of banter that goes on, which is great because I think he feels very, very relaxed here,” Clarke said.
Meeting the Community
William introduced George to the people who rely on the charity, including Sarah and Brian. The couple, who met through The Passage after being homeless, are now engaged to be married.
Sarah spoke eloquently to the young Prince, explaining that because they have no relatives, the charity “is our family.” George listened intently as William told his son, “This is the guy I was telling you about,” referencing his long-standing relationship with the community there.
A Visit Years in the Making
The visit lasted about an hour before the pair left to join the Royal Family for lunch at Buckingham Palace. Mr. Clarke revealed that discussions about when to introduce George to the charity had been happening for a couple of years, with William waiting until the time felt right for his son.
The Prince and Princess of Wales later shared photos of the visit on social media, thanking the staff—including head chef Claudette—for their incredible work. The charity sent the Princes home with three teddy bears, one for each of the Wales children, while William sent food hampers to the shelter in return
