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

Prince William said criticism of his privileged lifestyle and numerous housing stock prompted him to try to end homelessness in Britain.

The heir to the throne was challenged to respond to jibes about his three houses and the 135,000-acre Duchy of Cornwall estate, in a two-part ITV documentary broadcast this week.

in Prince William: We can end homelessnessviewers hear a recording of LBC radio host James O'Brien citing criticism from Graham Smith, the chief executive of The Republic, the anti-monarchy group, who says homelessness is about government policy and investment, and will not be stopped by charity or royal patronage.

When asked how he felt about criticism of Homewards, his five-year program designed to show others how homelessness can be ended, William said: “I think if I answered every single critic, I'd be here all day. But you know, criticism Moves you forward.

He adds: “I think it's right to question, but I think, ultimately, we're pushing forward for change and hope and optimism in a world that has had little of it for a long time. I hope I can bring something that hasn't been done before.”

The documentary, which airs Wednesdays and Thursdays, follows him through the first year after the launch of the Homewards program. William was seen touring Nansledan, near Newquay, where the duchy is building 24 homes.

“I'm not sitting here and saying I'm going to solve homelessness for the entire world. But I'm going to show people how to prevent homelessness.

More than 350,000 people in Britain lack permanent housing. It is estimated that the number of homeless or at-risk people between the ages of 16 and 24 has risen to more than 130,000 people.

The prince tells the documentary team that he discussed homelessness with his three children, George, Charlotte and Louis, while they were at school. In Windsor, where they live, the council earlier this year was dealing with 101 cases of homelessness and there were 25 people sleeping rough.

“The first few times I thought, ‘Should I bring this up? Or should I wait and see if any of them noticed?’ And sure enough, they did, and they were kind of silent after I said what was going on.” “And I think that’s really important.” “To start those conversations when kids are little, so they understand the world around them and aren't just living, you know, in their own little worlds.”