William and George Help Prepare Christmas Lunch at The Passage, Echoing Diana’s 1993 Visit

Prince William and his son Prince George visited The Passage, a homelessness charity in central London, to help prepare a Christmas lunch for guests and volunteers. The pair were filmed taking part in kitchen duties, with George donning an apron to assist in the cooking process and William handling tasks such as preparing a large pot of Brussels sprouts. The video was released by the Prince and Princess of Wales and shows George also helping to hang decorations on a Christmas tree as the charity hosted guests for the holiday event.

During the visit, Aston Villa Christmas crackers were placed on tables in a nod to the princes’ shared support for the football club, a moment that drew a smile from staff and volunteers. Mick Clarke, the charity’s chief executive, recalled that George is a Villa fan and that William teased him about the rivalry, noting that banter is a normal part of the day at The Passage. Clarke described the moment as a sign of how relaxed the relationship has become between the royals and the volunteers.

The visit carried a strong historical thread for The Passage. Clarke said William introduced George to the centre’s staff, including head chef Claudette Dawkins, and explained that this is the same place Diana, Princess of Wales, first brought William when he was about George’s age. Clarke pointed to a visitor’s book page dated 1993, signed by Diana and William, and said William invited George to sign the page as a way of completing a homegrown royal family loop: "That was really lovely because it was also a lovely moment where William was able to say to George 'That’s my mum. And this was the very first day that she took me to The Passage'."

Staff described how the two generations worked together to prepare for the lunch, with George helping to assemble care packages for guests who could not attend the event. The packages contained roughly 30 items, including vouchers, toiletries, socks, and snack bars, and the young prince also assisted in decorating a tree donated to the charity from Westminster Abbey after Catherine, Princess of Wales’s carol service earlier in the month.

Clarke recalled that William has supported The Passage for many years, and the arrangement to bring George to the charity was constructed over time to ensure it felt right for the boy. He said the moment where William introduced George to Brian and Sarah, a couple helped by The Passage, was particularly poignant. Brian and Sarah told Clarke how Christmas can feel like family for people who do not have one, and Clarke noted how George listened intently and asked questions as the couple shared their story.

The visit also highlighted The Passage’s ongoing work, including its No Night Out campaign, which aims to prevent someone from spending even one night on the streets by offering early support to those at risk of homelessness. Clarke explained that the charity’s work is built on long-standing relationships with donors and volunteers, and that the visiting royals have helped shine a spotlight on the cause. He added that William’s relaxed demeanor at The Passage underscored a genuine commitment to the issue that dates back to his youth.

The royals’ engagement at The Passage lasted about an hour on Tuesday before they rejoined the rest of the royal family for a Christmas lunch at Buckingham Palace. In a social media post accompanying earlier photographs, William and Kate had said, “Introducing Prince George to The Passage — and Claudette!” and thanked supporters for their ongoing work to prevent and end homelessness in the UK. In addition to in-person interactions, The Passage gave the royals three teddy bears for their younger children, underscoring the charity’s family-centered approach to its mission. William later organized food hampers, containing cakes and other items, to be distributed to residential centres connected to The Passage.

The day’s events were framed by a sense of continuity between Diana’s charity work and the current generation of royals. Clarke emphasized that the visit seemed to complete a circle from 1993 to 2025, when a new page was added to the visitor book and a new chapter was opened in William’s ongoing relationship with The Passage. The two generations of royals were described by Clarke as reflecting a shared commitment to helping those who are homeless or at risk of homelessness, and to supporting the charity’s broader mission to provide practical help and a sense of community during the holiday season.