Prince William is reportedly "absolutely committed" to tackling homelessness in the UK in honour of his late mother, Princess Diana.
The future king is said to have the "steely determination" to resolve the issue as he prepares his first major policy intervention in an area that was so close to his mum's heart.
The Duke of Cambridge is set to launch projects in numerous locations across the country next week, ahead of what would have been Diana's 62nd birthday on July 1.
A source told the Daily Express: "Homelessness is an issue affecting every part of our society and William has a steely determination to get things done.
"He wants change and impact. He wants to use his platform for change. Homelessness is increasing and William is absolutely committed to helping resolve this issue."
The prince revealed recently that there are "absolutely" plans for social housing to be built on his private estate, the 130,000-acre Duchy of Cornwall.
"It’s nerve-racking but I’m really excited. I’ve been waiting for the right time. You’ll see that when it’s ready. I’m no policy expert, but I push it where I can," he told the Sunday Times recently.
The insider added: "He has an authenticity and ability to relate to others that many envy. This is all very different from the pomp and circumstance of the Coronation and is part of William’s view of the modernisation of the monarchy. He wants to connect where he feels there is a need. It is hugely important to him and what he feels is his role going forward."
William was just 11 when Diana first took him to visit a shelter, ran by the Passage, to whom he is now patron.
Recalling the experience earlier this year in an interview for Comic Relief, he explained: "My mother introduced me to the cause of homelessness from quite a young age, and I'm really glad she did.
"I think she would be disappointed that we are still no further on, in terms of tackling homelessness and preventing it, than when she was interested and involved in it."
The 41-year old, who is also the patron of another homeless charity, Centrepoint, is particularly concerned over youth homelessness, which part of his new plans will be devoted to resolving.
According to Centrepoint, the number of 16 to 24-year-olds who were homeless in 2022 or at risk of being so was 122,000 - an increase of 12,000 in five years.
"For me, 122,000 is a figure that's way too high," William said. "We need to get ahead of the curve to stop this becoming more and more fixed."
Continuing to follow in his mum's footsteps, meanwhile, the Prince said he has been pondering "when is the right time" to introduce his three children to a homeless organisation.
"When I can balance it with their schooling, they will definitely be exposed to it," he said in the Sunday Times interview. "On the school run, we talk about what we see. When we were in London, driving backwards and forwards, we regularly used to see people sitting outside supermarkets.
"It’s in all our interests, it’s the right thing to do, to expose the children, at the right stage, in the right dialogue, so they have an understanding. They [will] grow up knowing that actually, do you know what, some of us are very fortunate, some of us need a little bit of a helping hand, some of us need to do a bit more where we can to help others improve their lives."
