Prince William mentions brother Harry for first time in years during heartfelt tribute to Princess Diana

LONDON, UK: Prince William addressed his estranged brother Prince Harry for the first time amid their ongoing rift, sharing a formative childhood memory in his new documentary, 'Prince William: We Can End Homelessness', which is set to air on October 30 and 31 on ITV.

The documentary offers a look into the prince’s five-year Homewards initiative, focused on tackling and ending homelessness across the UK.

Prince William shares emotional childhood memory with Prince Harry in new documentary

In a newly released clip, William reflects on how his late mother, Princess Diana, first introduced him and Harry to the issue of homelessness by taking them to The Passage, a UK charity for people experiencing or at risk of homelessness.

"My mother took me to The Passage; she took Harry and I both there. I must have been 11 at the time, maybe 10. I had never been to anything like that before, and I was a bit anxious about what to expect," William recalls, marking his first public mention of his brother in years.

William fondly recounts Diana’s ease with people at the shelter and her talent for making everyone feel comfortable. “My mother went about her usual, making everyone feel relaxed, having a laugh and joking,” he says. 

"I remember at the time kind of thinking, 'Well if everyone doesn't have a home, they’re all going to be really sad.' But it was incredible how happy an environment it was," he continues.

William reflects on the moment he first understood the harsh reality of homelessness, recalling conversations with the individuals he met that day.

"I remember having some good conversations, playing chess, chatting and that’s when it dawned on me that there were other people out there who don’t have the same life as you do. You know, when you’re quite small, you just think life is what you see in front of you and you don’t really have a concept to look elsewhere," he recalled.

"It's when you meet people, as I did then, who put a different perspective in your head and say, 'Well, I was living on the street last night,' and you’re like, 'Woah.' I remember that happening," he shared, noting how the experience shifted his worldview.

Since that first impactful visit, William has visited The Passage numerous times, becoming its patron in 2019. His documentary and ongoing involvement with the charity pay tribute to his mother’s compassionate legacy, which she instilled in both William and Harry from an early age.

In a 2017 Newsweek interview, Harry also credited Diana for introducing him to the reality of life beyond palace walls, saying, "Thank goodness I'm not completely cut off from reality."

Prince William and Prince Harry's strained brotherhood

Prince William has drawn attention with his recent remarks about his strained relationship with his brother Prince Harry amid ongoing tensions between them.

The rift, reportedly beginning in 2016 when William raised concerns about Harry's fast-developing relationship with Meghan Markle, has deepened over the years, especially after Harry and Meghan's 2020 decision to step away from their royal roles.

The rift with Prince William is "very bad,” a royal insider said, but it’s not "irreparable."

The last time the brothers were seen together was at their uncle Lord Robert Fellowes' memorial service in August, where they reportedly did not interact.

William's comments coincide with the upcoming release of his documentary, set to air on October 30 and 31, which highlights his launch of the Homewards initiative aimed at addressing homelessness across the UK.

This initiative aims to tackle homelessness through collaboration, highlighting the experiences of those impacted and featuring prominent advocates.