Prince William Pressed to Make a Bold Move and Be a 'King For the 21st Century'
The expert enquired how credible William’s mission to eradicate homelessness would be if the monarchy continues to hold dozens of homes, palaces, and estates.
Prince William has been urged to make a controversial decision when he takes the throne, one that would strike at the heart of royal tradition. A royal expert has suggested the future monarch reduce the vast portfolio of property that he is to inherit, amid claims that such extreme wealth sits uneasily given his public commitment to ending homelessness.
Former BBC Correspondent Jennie Bond penned her thoughts in a column for the i Paper and asked how credible William’s mission to eradicate homelessness would be if the monarchy continues to hold dozens of homes, palaces, and estates. She stated, “Something that is beyond question, to my mind, is the need to dispense with the vast property portfolio that William will inherit. Nobody needs so many houses, castles, and palaces. And it is particularly offensive when juxtaposed with William’s campaign to end homelessness.”
For Bond, the issue isn’t just symbolic but also a practical and moral imperative. Addressing the Prince directly, she urged him to take decisive action. “He will have to jettison or re-purpose these buildings.” She believes meaningful modernization of the monarchy can’t be separated from its asset management, especially during a time when homelessness continues to impact tens of thousands of people living across the UK.
She continued, “So, far from being his undoing as some might suggest, careful modernization of the monarchy stands every chance of making William a highly effective King for the 21st century.” Taking into account the inherent contractions of royal life, she noted, “Monarchy is indeed an anachronism, but, in this country at least, set against the ever-shifting background of poisonous politics, it is an anachronism that appears to work.”
William’s longstanding focus on eliminating homelessness can be said to be a carrying forward of his mother's legacy. He has been passionate about the issue since childhood, when his mother, the late Princess Diana, took him to visit a homeless shelter. He admitted how the experience left a 'lasting impression' on him. Reflecting on those early encounters in the documentary Prince William: We Can End Homelessness, he said, “I met so many extraordinary people and listened to so many heartbreaking personal stories. Too many people have found themselves without a stable and permanent place to call home.”
He carried this commitment into his adult life and started major initiatives. In 2023, William announced his aim to put the Duchy of Cornwall's land to use and establish housing sites for the homeless nationwide. In an interview with The Times, he highlighted the severity of the crisis. Arguing that at the time, 122,000 people aged 16 to 24 were homeless or at risk of homelessness, he said, “For me, 122,000 is a figure that's way too high. We need to get ahead of the curve to stop this from becoming more and more fixed.” In light of this, calls for him to confront the monarchy’s own relationship with the property and privilege appear increasingly difficult to ignore.
