Global General
Prince William sleeps rough in London for charity
(Agencies)
Updated: 2009-12-23 22:35
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 Britain's Prince William (R) and Seyi Obakin, CEO for the Centrepoint charity for homeless people, stand near Blackfriars Bridge in London in this December 15, 2009 photograph made available in London on December 22, 2009. Both Prince William and Seyi Obakin slept rough for the night, after the charity organised the opportunity for the Prince to experience a night sleeping on the streets. [Agencies] |
LONDON: Prince William spent a night sleeping rough on the streets of London last week to raise awareness for the homeless, charity Centrepoint said on Tuesday.
William, second in line to the throne and Centrepoint patron, and his private secretary Jamie Lowther-Pinkerton slept on cardboard boxes in freezing temperatures on December 15 near Blackfriars bridge with Centrepoint chief executive Seyi Obakin.
The prince was then taken through the West End in the early hours of the morning to observe other rough sleepers.
"I cannot, after one night, even begin to imagine what it must be like to sleep rough on London's streets night after night," William said.
"Poverty, mental illness, drug and alcohol dependancy and family breakdown cause people to become and then stay homeless. I hope that by deepening my understanding of the issue, I can help do my bit to help the most vulnerable on our streets."
