I eagerly await the royal reporters’ gleeful takedowns of a certain prince’s “publicity stunt.” I’m sure someone is mad that a younger prince overshadowed Prince Charles or pulled focus from the Queen. I’m sure that the prince’s careful, performative PR hit will be exposed as exploitative and lacking in privacy. I’m sure that the prince will also be soundly mocked as an airy-fairy do-gooder trying too hard to be woke. What’s that? I’m being told the prince in question is Prince William. So… probably none of that will happen. Guess what William did? He visited a homeless shelter long enough to pose for a photo, and they held back the information for two weeks.
Prince William is helping out during hard times. Homeless shelter The Passage revealed on Tuesday that the royal visited their center in London on three separate occasions ahead of Christmas. In a photo shared by The Rooftop, William sports a mask and apron as he sorts supplies into paper bags.
According to the outlet, Prince William, who is patron of the organization, spoke with homeless residents about their experiences amid the coronavirus pandemic and worked alongside other volunteers to prepare hot meals for individuals who had been moved into emergency hotel accommodation.
“Because we thought you might need a good news story!” the organization tweeted. “If we’ve learnt anything from previous lockdowns, it’s the willingness and determination of so many to do what they can to help. We would like to thank staff and volunteers for their work at this time.”
The charity provided 70,000 meals during the U.K.’s two national lockdowns.
“This year, more than ever, our army of volunteers have enabled The Passage to keep our vital services running throughout both lockdowns and the time in-between,” The Passage Chief Executive Mick Clarke said. “From our emergency food hub to fundraising, outreach to essential office support, our Home for Good program to our residential projects, we are extremely fortunate to have such a versatile and committed group of supporters.”
The Passage is a great organization and people working with homeless people are amazing. But… why hold back the news? Surely the f–king point of having a royal patron is to get more attention to the organization/charity, and to help raise vital funds? But that’s not William’s purpose – his purpose is to get a very convenient story and photo saved for a moment when he needs PR. I mean, if William had made a visit publicly before Christmas, I’m sure that would have bumped up the Passage’s donors and helped The Passage provide more support to homeless people during the holidays! But too bad, William wanted the PR hit after New Year’s.
When the Sussexes organized the photoshoot for Remembrance Day, this is what Richard Palmer wrote: “Since they quit Britain Harry and Meghan have mainly done “engagements” at which they seek to control the message by issuing photos and press releases afterwards. Where is the US media at these events? Isn’t a free press one of the western values we cherish and fight for?” Seriously is no one going to point out how bizarre it is that William does “private visits” with a homeless charity which is probably in desperate need of donations, AND he doesn’t inform the press and yet organizes his own photoshoot? Anyone??
Because we thought you might need a good news story!
If we've learnt anything from previous lockdowns, it's the willingness and determination of so many to do what they can to help. We would like to thank staff and volunteers for their work at this time. https://t.co/9VAhL9lWAP— The Passage Charity (@PassageCharity) January 5, 2021
Photos courtesy of Avalon Red.
It still astounds me that they think that dumb train tour was more effective for PR than this.
I think it’s a case of lobbing every poorly thought out and copied from the Sussexes act of service against the wall and seeing what will stick. Him and his wife being carried on the shoulders of ‘natives’ during their 2012 tour of the Solomon Islands is actually trending more than this photo. It’s the very very bare minimum he can do for someone so privileged. He is not liked and he knows it hence the charity leaks and reveals.
wait why are those photos trending? 😂 man karma is really scary. those photos always bothered tf out of me.
Yes, they are trending, and in multiple languages. And apparently it happened more than once!! how are there MULTIPLE incidents of the white royals being carried by the black people they colonized?!?!?! (in the last 10 years)
Is it just me or does PwBT look as if he does not want to be there in the photos taking during his visit to The Passages? Either PwBT does not photograph well or he needs a new professional photographer.
Oh and the excuses to justify how bad this looks from the royalists are just so bad. I cringed when they did it in 2012 and it only gets worse with age.
Charles also visited and there no pictures of him being carried. Clearly the person can decline.
It looks so bad that William didn’t even take off his sunglasses. If it’s a ceremonial honor then behave respectfully.
@Nic out of curiosity, what are some of the excuses people are trying to give for those photos? Clearly it’s inexcusable, but I’d enjoy hearing their attempts.
He thinks this makes him seem more appealing-I do my work for charities on the down low, unlike my brother.
But the difference is clear, Harry want to highlight the charity and Willileaks wants to have the spotlight on himself.
Willileaks. 👏👏😂
Agreed, Wills is all about one thing: HIMSELF. He is a monster in the making – he is not done yet. He will continue to become bitter and petty just like his grandmother whom they say has such an affect on him. And Kate is an idiot to go along with the mistreatment of Harry and Meghan. Her children will experience the same dysfunction.
William covets the spotlight so much he’s tried countless times to reclaim it after the Sussexes left with no success. He would give his right arm for the kind of international interest his brother gets. His charity work is always performative. No interest, minimum input, no follow up and no heart.
Complete with “concerned” look, like his wife. What a sham.
Exactly!! “THAT” look. Oh, so worried and desperate to help. 🙄
I think you are absolutely right about this–usually, the Cambridges can’t wait to publish photos of themselves doing the least possible, whereas the Sussexes actually do substantial work that is revealed long after by those charitable organizations that are reaping the benefits. I guess two weeks was as long as KP could wait. Performative.
This is apparently one of his patronages anyways. So 1) if this is one of his patronages, how come we’ve never heard about him doing anything for it before? And 2) he wants some kind of “extra credit,” and the press is totally willing to give it to him, for visiting a place he is SUPPOSED TO visit and work with. It’s basically asking for a pat on the back because you went to work at the place you’re employed.
Hey if his petulant, petty competitiveness makes him help out once in a while so be it. Maybe he would have a revelation. Maybe. Anyway this is the bare minimum expected of him. Fact remains nobody would push him to do further. #AbolishTheMonarchy
Well said, Alexandria. He’s doing good here, maybe for bad reasons, but it’s necessary work and maybe he will remember something of his mother as he does the work and it may spark some recognition, self reflection and change. I think that is about as likely as Trump having an epiphany that he’s a narcissistic asshat at this point. But I’ve seen so much weird and unlikely stuff last year I am open to the possibilities. Lol.
Why are they trying so hard to copy those irrelevant royals that abandoned the UK during the covid crisis? They even had the charity release the news weeks later. Nothing original in camp covimbridge.
Exactly my thought. this is such an obvious copy cat move – I cant remember when the charity/organization released the news like this for one of their visits. Isnt that the whole point of the rota?
Lol
Aww, they’ve let him put on a special apron and and given him access to the packed lunches, so that we can all pretend that he spent ages buttering sandwiches and portioning out snacks.
I wonder if he added any of Kate’s artisanal dried pasta packs to the bags?
Don’t forget the chutney!
There were absolutely no complaints from the royal rota about not being invited to these visits which were made in November. The way this first reported was that William visited during the actual Christmas season. One report said that William was honouring his mother which was probably the main aim of releasing these pictures now. It’s good that William did this but as Kaiser said, it would have been better if he publicised these visits, not on the day, but soon after so that people would have been encouraged to donate to the charity for Christmas. It’s also interesting that the charity tweeted about this rather than KP. I mean it’s not like they’re restricted from using social media or that he’s popular enough that the charity tweeting about the visits would give them more visibility. Also no one has accused him of being woke for wanting to help the homeless, how come?
Joined up strategic thinking is not their suit at KP. Throwing younger brother and wife under the bus on the other hand, they are experts at. He never thinks of the charities as he has to centre himself in everything. If this was publicised correctly, much needed funds could have been raised for the benefit of those in need. He is more suited to choochooing around the country and forcing his kids on the red carpet.
It’s not on KP because he’s trying to prove he’s not like Harry who does it for PR LOL He’s of course just thinking of outdoing his brother and not about the impact he could have on the charity, if any.
He was probably there 10 minutes tops. Notice the charity thanks the staff and volunteers — but not William. Compare that to the Sussexes charities’ posts which are gushing with praise for M & H.
Oh, most likely. The maximum time working royals spend at these places is 30 minutes.
Meanwhile, the charity Harry visited in November ( to feed veterans) said he stayed 4 hours.
William does it for PR and Harry does it because he cares.
BRF or royals in general do this for PR. PR makes them exist but of course they pretend it is duty. I’d rather they do it on their on time and get off welfare. Royals don’t belong in 2021. Once in a while, a very good initiative like the Prince’s Trust, Invictus, Sentable creates huge impact.
That was the first thing that stood out — nowhere in that post was William and his “graciousness” mentioned specifically. How interesting.
Well done Wills. This is exactly the hands on volunteering that I have given Sophie props for and what I think the magnificent seven should have been doing more of during this pandemic to actually be helpful (where safe to do so of course). And actually seems like homeless people who were being temporarily housed during the early stage of the pandemic are being kicked out until the streets again so it’s good for William to highlight the work of Passage & Crisis right now.
In the press they have referred to William honouring Diana with this visit. It’s funny how the press tone is different when William does it. He’s not ‘using his mother’s iconic status’.
I mean, good for him for showing up? But why is this being released now? Why not before the holidays? And I thought it was a huge no-no for the organization to release the pictures, where is the rota, where is the UK press?!?!?!?!
Honestly, this confirms to me that William IS on vacation and he asked the passage to hold off on these pictures until a certain time (i.e. when he’s away) so it gives the illusion that he’s working now to people who don’t look too hard.
BINGO!
This is a new tactic of the DoLittles – do a few events, sit of them and then release info ity bity when they need good PR.
And they cover it up by saying they didn’t want to “distract” from the charity’s mission or something by releasing it when it actually happened. You’re not distracting from anything Cambridges.
Too bad for them though because the volunteering photo isn’t making a dent on social media and got no international coverage. That racist photo of them being carried has gone viral on several accounts though. I saw one tweet of it yesterday with over 250k likes. Lol
How would letting people know that William had been there the day before or whatever, “distract from the charity’s mission” in any way, shape, or form? If royals showing up to volunteer at your charity is somehow detrimental to your mission, then why TF do all these places have royal patrons? I just….wow. The RF or press is actually going with “royals doing charity distracts from charities”?! And they’re NOT using it as a reason to abolish the monarchy? Because if royals doing charity work is distracting and not good for charities, that sort of contradicts the whole “we have to have a royal family because they do so much charity work.”
we’ll know when they show up on Zoom with a tan
This is exactly what they do. Show a picture of something they did months ago while they are off taking a holiday and since most don’t pay attention they will assume he’s doing it now.
Sneaky buggers!
This delayed-release is definitely to make the public think they’ve seen Will out and about working this week when in reality he’s probably still in Mustique. I wonder if one winter Willileaks will just refuse to fly back from Mustique and decide that he’s going to be a beach bum and live out his days on the island with whatever is left of his inheritance from Diana. They can try and come get him, but why bother?
Lol. I see Kate coming back and trying to get the social media team at KP to just post photos from old engagements in order to make it seem like he’s actually in England and is still working. I’m just imagining the KP Instagram with a string of pictures of Will with varying amounts of hair, like Lots of Hair Cute Will, then very bald Will, then somewhere in between Will, then a picture of him when he was like 18, then a picture of him at age 35, followed by a picture of him as a child with Diana.. and the KP insta trying to sell them as pictures that were taken of Will “earlier this week when he visited such and such patronage.”
The hypocrisy of The British Media, is so brazen, I am embarrassed for them. Everything The Sussexes do is nitpicked and mocked at. It is okay for Wills to honour his mum, but poor harry, is treated like Cinderella, and we all know how that story ended, so I am not afraid. The British Media is racist and dishonest; The Chickens will come home to roost. Mark my words, in 5 years time, The Royal Family will come abegging to The Sussexes for help, without them giving up their financial freedom.
I believe that as long as Liz is alive, this won’t happen. But with Charles as king, I can absolutely see him trying to bring H&M back in the fold somehow.
I don’t see Harry returning under Charles’ reign. Charles doesn’t support what Harry and Meghan have done and I don’t think there’s much of a relationship between father and son that would encourage Harry to return.
I do think Charles was on board with the part-time royal idea, only because he knows he needs Harry and Meghan, but at this point that ship has sailed. They’re gone. They have their money – the money they already had and all their new money – and they’re gone.
(and to clarify I think he was on board, but not enough to override his mother and William.)
It doesn’t matter who the monarch is, Harry and Meghan are not coming back to an abusive work environment and a hostile country that wants to abuse the two royals of African American descent for sport. It’s not happening.
Oh no, I don’t for a second believe H&M would ever come back, but I think Chuck will try.
I still don’t get why William could over ride Charles. Charles is above William in the hierarchy.
It’s good that he brought attention to this charity he is patron of but 1 visit over a year’s time is that impressive? What annoys me is the assumption by those on SM that he “stayed longer than 10 minutes”, “didn’t bring his own photographer”, and that it is touching when he does something that would honor his mother and not “using her for PR”. And, of course, “he does it in secret, and not for PR”. If these people are real fans have they not seen time after time when the royals visited “in secret” and photos were released later?
Those responses are funny because he used the exact same playbook that M&H use for their volunteer work. Volunteer with an org a few times, get some photos taken at one engagement, have the charitY release the photos and stories at an opportune time. Follow-up on story with more context at major media publications.
Yeah, he’s not slick. This is exactly what the Sussexe’s do to highlight their organizations, and I’m sure KP’s Social Media Manager has told them to switch it up for great impact.
The problem is, the holiday donation push happens before Christmas, not after when everyone has spent money on gifts. So this is just another feel-good PR opp since they aren’t actually working right now.
All this proves is that this is likely the only volunteering he’s done all pandemic. Otherwise, we’d definitely have heard about it by now. And it’s much less impressive, considering H&M, Sophie & Edward, and a bunch of other royals have been consistently volunteering the whole time. But get your good PR, William. You needed it.
Gardening takes a LOT of time!!!! Those Rose bushes don’t prune themselves you know!!! Who has time for charity work?
The visit is definitely good and I’m surprised the RRs don’t care that a page was taken out of the Sussex handbook and these photos were released via the charity.
Since when do taxpayer dependent royals volunteer privately, use their own photographers, and then allow the organization to release a photo on their social media? These people don’t have an original bone in their body and it’s going to backfire on them. HM do private volunteering because they’re private people, not on the roster of “working royals” whose sole job it is to do engagements and highlight charities. HM have their own photographer or use the charity’s photographer because they have no “royal rota” following them. HM allow the charity’s social media to post the photo not only to help the charity garner attention and support but because they no longer have their own social media.
So the Cambridges are fooling themselves if they think the royal rota are going to allow them to do these private engagements, not include them, and let it slide. Right now they’re happy to be openly hypocritical about this as a way to smack down the Sussexes, but these reporters and photographers who cover the royal family are stuck in their houses, financially ruined, and are starving due to covid and the departure of their cash cows who’ve escaped to California. And they will soon turn on them for these Sussex inspired “private visits”. If the Cambridges think they can copy the moves of two free people, they’ve got another thing coming.
Let me get this straight. After denigrating the Sussexes’ continued charity work as garish publicity stunts, William and the genius team at KP decide what better way to showcase their future future king than to [checks notes] have him visit his own patronage and [checks notes again] hold the photos and story until it is completely impossible for the general public to support said patronage for the holidays through donations driven by the increased visibility due to William’s visit, and then ultimately releasing the story in one of the biggest US news cycles since the November election (because you know they care about US coverage, that’s the entire point) and as the UK enters another lockdown?
I mean, congrats on …supporting your own patronage? One single time?
I’d be very interested to see how many times William has visited since he was made their royal patron.
Notice how this is a food related charity. Food insecurity is a big focus for the Sussexes too. Hmmm. At any rate, at least he’s doing something, let’s see if he keeps it up.
That’s true but William has been involved with homelessness for quite awhile now before Meghan came on the scene. He took over the homeless patronage that his mother used to have. I can’t remember the name of that charity and Passage also had a long association with Diana. She wasn’t the patron but she used to visit the charity. Since Meghan has worked with homeless shelters in the past, it was something that she and William could have found common ground on but he saw her as a threat rather than an asset.
Centerpoint is the name of the charity you’re thinking of
Yes, that’s it.
You’ll spend your entire life waiting if you think he’s going to stick to any of this. All of this is just quick PR point scoring to bide time so the press don’t uncover where he’s really been spending his Christmases. Then when Spring comes around, he’ll move on to another keen focus of his (climate change, mental health, etc) to bide over another rocky period with the press. None of this is sustainable or healthy. It’s only a matter of time before the press want more.
I wonder if this visit counted toward his engagement totals or did he do like Sophie and do it on his “personal time”?
It didn’t count because no one knew about it but if he wants it to count he can just submit an addendum to the Court Circular. I’m guessing he won’t do that.
I’m guessing he will. He’s a taker, not a giver. He will take all the recognition he can get.
He sorted supplies into paper bags, what a guy!
There’s only one good thing about William: he supports Aston Villa.
In the header photo it looks like he’s asking a person, “and you’re homeless because you didn’t inherit a ton of money from your royal family? Wow, that’s rough, mate!”