Prince William made a heartfelt admission during a solo visit to Newport, South Wales, on Tuesday, where he learned about the city’s efforts to combat homelessness, particularly among vulnerable women.
Prince William, 42, visited the Nelson Trust, a support service operating in Wales, Bristol, and surrounding areas.
During a conversation with Rebecca, a 32-year-old care assistant, he listened to her powerful story. Rebecca shared how she endured foster care, homelessness at 16, and the devastating loss of her partner and father, which led to a suicide attempt.
Despite these hardships, Rebecca proudly revealed how she has “broken the cycle.” Now living on a struggling housing estate, she is pursuing a degree in Psychology. “I never had support as a child growing up,” she said.
Moved by her resilience, William responded: “You seem like a force of nature, Rebecca. We need more Rebeccas in the world. What you have been through… more than people face in their entire lifetimes. You’ve done amazingly well. I’m not sure I’d come out the other side like you.”
During his visit, William also engaged with representatives from various organizations, including Newport City Homes, Newport City Council, Newport Live, Pobl, Dick Lovett, and Public Health Wales. Together, they discussed initiatives aimed at ending homelessness among women.
Speaking with a group focused on early intervention, the Prince emphasized the importance of understanding and destigmatizing homelessness. “We need to change the narrative and lose the stigma,” he said.
Encouraging innovation, he added: “How do we break down barriers and give you the freedom to do things differently? That’s where I can step in—to disrupt the norm and challenge you to think outside the box. What you’re doing here is unique.”
