Prince William: 'I will show people how to prevent homelessness'

Prince William has said that criticism of his privileged lifestyle and many shelters has motivated him to end homelessness in Britain.

The heir to the throne was challenged to respond to jibes for the airing of a two-part ITV documentary this week about his three homes and 135,000-acre duchy of Cornwall estate.

In Prince William: We can end homelessnessViewers heard a recording by LBC radio host James O'Brien of Graham Smith, the chief executive of the Republic, citing criticism from anti-monarchy groups, who said homelessness was about government policy and investment, and would not be stopped by charity or royal patronage.

Asked how he felt about criticism of Homewards, his five-year program designed to show others how to end homelessness, William said: “I think if I answered every critic, I'd be here all day. But you know, the criticism. Takes you forward.”

He added: “I think it's right to question but I think, ultimately, we're moving forward to provide change and hope and optimism in a world where frankly it's been lacking for a long time. I hope I can bring something like that.” which has not been done before.”

The documentary, which airs on Wednesdays and Thursdays, follows her first year after launching Homewards. William is seen traveling to Nanceledan, near Newquay, where the Duchy is building 24 houses.

“I'm not sitting here saying I'm going to solve the entire world's homeless problem. But I'm going to show people how to prevent homelessness,” he says.

More than 350,000 people lack permanent homes in Britain. The number of people aged 16 to 24 who are homeless, or at risk, is estimated to be over 130,000.

The prince tells the documentary team that he has discussed homelessness with his three children George, Charlotte and Louise during school. In Windsor, where they live, the local council was dealing with 101 homelessness cases earlier this year and there were 25 rough sleepers.

“The first few times I thought, did I bring it? Or should I wait and see if any of them noticed? And sure enough, they did, and after I told them what was going on, they were just silent,” he told the filmmakers. “And I think it's really important that you start those conversations when kids are young, so they can understand the world around them. And they're not just living in their own little world.”