Snappy newsletters. Simple Facebook sharing. Spirited comments. Sweet features are waiting… GET THEM NOW!

Prince William Sleeps on Streets for Charity

Royal seeks better understanding of homeless issue

By Rob Quinn,  Newser Staff

Posted Dec 23, 2009 1:18 AM CST
Email

(Newser) – Prince William has spent a night sleeping under a bridge in London in freezing temperatures as part of his work supporting a charity for the homeless. The prince, his private secretary and the head of the Centerpoint charity for young homeless people bedded down in sleeping bags on top of cardboard, the BBC reports. The prince answered a challenge to sleep on the streets, saying he would do so if the charity would double its efforts to help the homeless.

"I cannot, after one night, even begin to imagine what it must be like to sleep rough on London's streets night after night," the prince said after his experience. "Poverty, mental illness, drug and alcohol dependency and family breakdown cause people to become and then stay homeless. I hope that by deepening my understanding of the issue, I can help do my bit to help the most vulnerable on our streets."

Prince William meets with young people supported by the charity Centrepoint on the charity's 40th anniversary in London earlier this month.
Prince William meets with young people supported by the charity Centrepoint on the charity's 40th anniversary in London earlier this month.   (AP Photo//Luke MacGregor, Pool)
In this image made available by the Charity Centrepoint in London, Tuesday Dec. 22, 2009, Britain's Prince William and Centrepoint CEO Seyi Obakin prepare for a night sleeping rough in freezing temperatures in central London, Tuesday Dec. 15, 2009. The Prince bedded down in a sleeping bag next to a...
In this image made available by the Charity Centrepoint in London, Tuesday Dec. 22, 2009, Britain's Prince William and Centrepoint CEO Seyi Obakin prepare for a night sleeping rough in freezing temperatures...   (AP Photo/Centrepoint, ho)
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow
My TakeCLICK BELOW TO VOTE
0%
0%
0%
0%
91%
9%
To report an error on this story, notify our editors.
A snapshot of the day's best news stories.
 
COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 10 comments
bahari@bellsouth.net
Jan 6, 2010 6:25 AM CST
I hope that this was not just for publicity for his charity and that he actually learned something even though it was JUST ONE NIGHT.
JGirl
Dec 23, 2009 10:31 AM CST
first of all the j in jgirl stands for my first name, which is jackie. ordinarily i disregard your assinine remarks because they aren't worth the effort of responding, but i was amused when i read this one: "I was making fun of your girl because she annoys me." you sure give me a lot of power over you. senseless fool.
JesusLovesSomeOfYou
Dec 23, 2009 8:29 AM CST
Does the, J in JGirl stand for Jes' Girl? Because you two would go well together. I wasn't comparing the tragedy of anything. I was making fun of your girl because she annoys me. And I'm not sure that spending one night on the streets makes it a, "calling". Personally, I think he should concentrate on ridding the world of people who try to turn an obviously sarcastic comment into an accusation that others think landmines are a bigger tradegy than homelessness which by the way, is a totally subjective issue.

 
London • Prince William • homeless • Britain • British royals

More Newser Stories

Harry: I Don't Wash My Hair

William Opens Up on Loss of 'Mummy'

Men, Women Love Wedding—But Not for Same Reasons

Why Wills and Kate Fascinate Us

Royal Wedding to Cost UK Economy $7.9 Billion
NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS
Other Sites We Like:   24/7 Wall St.   |   Betty Confidential   |   BuzzFeed   |   Cracked   |   Fark   |   Timelines   |   The Frisky   |   Geek Sugar   |   NewsOne