William’s bold moves as the new Prince of Wales

He is the heir to the British throne, is married to Kate, Princess of Wales and father of a crowd-pleasing threesome. But how much do you really know about the man who now holds the title Prince of Wales?

Nine months after being elevated to office, the royal sat down with the UK’s Sunday Times for a rare interview, opening up about what motivates him and the evolution of his royal duties.

It was the first time since becoming heir to the throne that William had spoken to the press, his first conversation with a newspaper, and he didn’t shy away from some of the toughest questions he was asked.

At the heart of the interview were his efforts to tackle homelessness in the UK – an issue he has long devoted himself to and which was perhaps rooted in his childhood by his late mother.

William’s opinion is that there are many misunderstandings and judgments about how an individual can end up sleeping on the street.

In very direct comments, he makes it clear that he doesn’t think the current approach to managing the problem works and that the focus should be on prevention.

“It is not insurmountable, this challenge. If someone becomes homeless (we can say), ‘OK, here’s the way back, here’s the way’.”

We can visualize this and we can show people that there is a way to do this,” he says. Some might argue that it’s easy for a privileged person to air ideas and criticisms. But over the years, William has been committed to helping tackle the homelessness crisis in whatever way he can.

We’ve seen firsthand the countless times he’s used his platform in genuine and meaningful ways to raise awareness of the challenges facing homelessness.

In 2009, he even spent a night sleeping on the streets of London to experience reality for himself. He has supported several charities and often tries to volunteer (even if it’s not always possible to go unnoticed).

In the Sunday Times article, William repeatedly teased a major project to come.

Without going into detail, he said, “it’s bringing together all the wonderful people and pieces of the puzzle” and “from that, we can get other boards in other parts of the country to copy. It’s a matter of momentum.”

He said he was not trying to interfere with government policy, arguing that “my plan is an additive to what is already being done”.

There was even a suggestion that the royal lands could be used for affordable accommodation in the future – a criticism the family often faces due to the vast amount of land they own, including numerous estates.

When asked if there were any housing plans using his lands in the Duchy of Cornwall, the heir was open to the idea, but declined to set a deadline.

“Absolutely. Social habitation. You’ll see it when you’re done. I’m not a policy expert, but I push where I can,” said William.

These days, when you speak to those around the Welsh, they often point out that the couple’s most recent campaigns are heavily focused on making a lasting impact, and it’s likely that William’s next project will also have that in mind.

What we are seeing is the future king and queen developing royal duties beyond simply ensuring they are visible so that the causes resonate with the public.

It’s clear he’s had a vision for playing the Prince of Wales after inheriting him from his father, and he’s eager to get started now that ceremonial events such as last weekend’s Trooping the Color and the order annual garter ceremony are in the rearview mirror.

He also hasn’t shied away from potentially embarrassing topics like his family. Instead, he was aware that the perception of the Windsors had taken a hit in recent years.

“We’re all very busy and I think sometimes it’s hard to see what the family brings and what we do,” he said in the interview.

“But the amount of causes, participation, dinners, meetings, visits, whatever it is, that we do day in, day out, throughout the year, we’ve always been involved in that. It’s part of what we do. It’s trying to highlight other causes, other people, other interests, and helping people where we can. We will continue to do this.”

His candid comments will go down well with royal observers, but for many in Britain, who continue to grapple with a cost of living crisis, they will want to see action as well as words. However, it was a strong start for the future king to remind people that there is more to monarchy than pomp and show.