Prince William made a secret visit to serve up Christmas dinner at a homelessness charity last night – and was described by one of those he met as a ‘legend’. 

William, 42, returned to The Passage – which he first visited with his mother Princess Diana when he was 11 – to take part in the charity’s annual Christmas meal for a second year running. 

Leo Scanlon, 39, who is a client of The Passage in London, said the future king donned an apron and spent more than an hour serving up vegetables, while chatting and posing for selfies with people being helped by the charity. 

Although the visit was not announced in advance, and there were no members of the media present, Leo got in touch with the Daily Mail because he wanted to ‘thank William from the bottom of my heart for what he did’. 

Pictures obtained by the Mail showed the Prince of Wales carefully piling roast vegetables on to plates during his hour-long service at the Westminster-based charity that holds a special place in his heart. 

In what is becoming a holiday ritual, the father-of-three also made a surprise appearance at The Passage’s Christmas party last December. 

During his visit, William helped prepare the sumptuous turkey meal – with all its trimmings – before sitting down to eat with everyone. 

Prince William became a patron of The Passage in February 2019, after first visiting the charity in 1993 with Princess Diana. 

On Thursday, William, 42, returned to The Passage – which he first visited with his mother Princess Diana when he was 11 – to take part in the charity’s annual Christmas meal for a second year running

Pictures obtained by the Mail showed the Prince of Wales carefully piling roast vegetables on to plates during his hour-long service at the Westminster-based charity that holds a special place in his heart

Prince William became a patron of The Passage in February 2019, after first visiting the charity in 1993 with his mother, Princess Diana

Since then, he has returned to the charity several times – both on official engagements and in a private capacity.

Speaking at an event marking the charity’s 40th birthday in 2019, William shared he has ‘developed a great affection’ for The Passage – while praising its volunteers for the ‘warmth, friendliness, and the dignity and respect you show to everyone’. 

He also recognised the ‘vital work’ The Passage does in helping people off the streets in a video message that was shared on X/Twitter on ICAP’s 30th Charity Day in 2022. 

In the clip, William shared he had seen ‘first-hand’ how The Passage works to end street homelessness.  

He said: ‘The Passage’s vision is a society where street homelessness no longer exists and where everyone has a place to call home.

‘They treat those that come to their door with kindness, compassion and dignity.

‘They provide practical and emotional support and they enable people to find a way off the streets and back into society.

‘It’s a mission that has never been more important.’ 

In what is becoming a holiday ritual, the father-of-three also made a surprise appearance at The Passage’s Christmas party last December

Father-of-three William appeared deep in conversation with one of the guests at the Christmas meal in 2023 

A passionate advocate for the cause, William said he has ‘no other agenda’ than to help people in his mission to end homelessness in his recently-released ITV documentary. 

The programme, titled Prince William: We Can End Homelessness, was released on October 30. 

In a candid moment from the show, William addressed the question of whether he is the ‘right person’ to deal with the issue, explaining ‘I see that as part of my role’. 

He was asked: ‘There will be some people who question whether you’re the right person to lead this project and its efforts to end homelessness. How would you respond to that?’

The prince responded: ‘I think everyone having the right to a safe and stable home benefits us all. I come with no other agenda than desperately trying to help people who are in need. 

‘And I see that as part of my role. Why else would I be here if not using this role properly to influence and help people where I can?

‘And I like a big challenge! I do like that, but I can’t do it on my own.’

The film also included photographs of William, aged 11, handing out Christmas presents, playing a game of chess, and listening intently to his mother, Princess Diana, during their 1993 visit to The Passage. 

A young Prince William pictured beaming alongside his mother Princess Diana during their visit to The Passage in 1993

The images were included in a new ITV documentary Prince William: We Can End Homelessness that was released in October

He also looked cheery after helping out with Christmas dinner, posing for a picture alongside the shelter’s cooks.

The exclusive ITV documentary mapped the first year of William’s ambitious initiative aimed at ending homelessness in the UK. 

William has set his sights on making rough sleeping, sofa surfing and temporary accommodation a thing of the past in his five-year programme called Homewards, which is founded by the prince and the Royal Foundation.

Homewards brings together a range of organisations to develop solutions in Newport, South Wales, three neighbouring Dorset towns, Poole, Bournemouth and Christchurch, the south London Borough of Lambeth, Belfast, Aberdeen and Sheffield.

Launching the ambitious plan last June, William said: ‘In a modern and progressive society, everyone should have a safe and secure home, be treated with dignity and given the support they need. 

‘Through Homewards, I want to make this a reality and over the next five years, give people across the UK hope that homelessness can be prevented when we collaborate.

‘It’s a big task, but I firmly believe that by working together it is possible to make homelessness rare, brief and unrepeated.’