Prince William and his 12-year-old son Prince George volunteered Tuesday at The Passage, London’s homelessness charity that William’s mother, Princess Diana, helped establish when he was a boy. The pair spent the morning baking cupcakes, packing care packages and helping decorate a Christmas tree, a hands-on visit that highlighted a family tradition of charitable service across generations.
George signed The Passage’s visitors book on the same page where Diana and William signed decades earlier, a moment captured in posts on the couple’s official accounts. A palace spokesperson said the outing was meant to show George the charity’s work and the role volunteers play, and that both father and son enjoyed meeting staff, volunteers and service users as they learned more about The Passage’s mission. "It was important to the Prince of Wales to share with Prince George the work of The Passage and to spend time volunteering alongside the team," the spokesperson said. "They both greatly enjoyed meeting staff, volunteers and service users as well as learning more about the charity’s work. The dedication shown not only by The Passage but by organizations across the homelessness sector, at Christmas and throughout the year, is invaluable."
The outing follows William’s long-standing reflections on his early experiences volunteering at The Passage. In the documentary Prince William: We Can End Homelessness, he recalled being about 11 when Diana first brought him and his brother to The Passage, noting he was anxious and hadn’t experienced anything like it before. William said his mother helped create a warm, relaxed atmosphere, explaining, "I remember at the time kind of thinking, ‘Well, whoever’s not got a home, they’re all going to be really sad,’ but it was incredible how happy an environment it was." The clip and accompanying interviews have been cited as one of the few public references to his brother in years.
In London’s broader holiday programming, Kate Middleton and Prince William released their 2025 family Christmas card featuring Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis. Earlier in the season, Middleton led the fifth annual Together at Christmas carol service at Westminster Abbey, an event designed to celebrate love in all its forms. Beatrice and Eugenie did not attend the service; their absence drew discussion online, with royal commentators noting invitations had been extended from Catherine’s office as part of ongoing efforts to present a united front during a busy year for the monarchy. "Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie received personal invitations for this year’s ‘Together at Christmas’ from Princess Catherine’s office," royal commentator Neil Sean told Fox News Digital. "This is Catherine’s project, and she has the final say — very similar to the way Prince William operates Earthshot. Above all, yes, the royal family wants to be seen as united amid what has been a very difficult year."
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry celebrated the holidays in Montecito, California with their two children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, and shared a holiday card on Instagram. The royal couple’s card comes as the family’s Christmas cards circulate widely on social media this season.
Crossing the Atlantic, the royal calendar also included the release of the 2025 Christmas card from Catherine, William and their three children, a reminder that charitable and ceremonial engagements remain central to the monarchy’s public-facing work during December.
The day at The Passage adds a new chapter to a decades-long thread of involvement with the charity started by Diana. From the days when Diana helped William and Harry see the shelter as more than a passing visit to the current generation’s hands-on volunteering, the family’s public service around Christmas remains a focal point of royal life. The outing was designed to illustrate to George how volunteers support residents facing homelessness, the breadth of The Passage’s work, and the ordinary moments—like baking cupcakes and decorating a tree—that underscore the impact of giving.
As the season unfolds, the royal family continues to blend private family moments with public duties, a balance that observers say is central to the monarchy’s narrative. The visit to The Passage, paired with the year’s Christmas campaigns and the release of the family cards, reinforces a message of service and unity as the holidays approach.
