Prince William certainly wants everyone to know that he is back on the front lines of royal duties, after taking some time away to support his wife, Kate, following an operation in January for an unspecified abdominal problem.
He took several steps to cement his return, but his call to “see an end to the fighting as quickly as possible” in the war between Israel and Hamas was perhaps his most powerful moment this week.
“There is a desperate need to increase humanitarian support for Gaza. It is essential that help arrives and the hostages are released,” said William. “Sometimes it is only when we are confronted with the enormous scale of human suffering that the importance of permanent peace is recognized.”
The strong statement came before several commitments that recognized human suffering in relation to the conflict taking place in the Middle East.
On Tuesday (20), he visited the London headquarters of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), which has been providing a humanitarian response to the war in Gaza. William was briefed on operations in the region and spoke to workers at the institution who provide mental health assistance to people suffering from trauma around the world.
William has followed the region closely since his historic trip to Israel and the West Bank in 2018, the first by any member of the British royal family, a royal source told CNN . Although the prince made a statement shortly after the Hamas attacks on October 7, it was the “extent of human suffering that is on display” that prompted him to make the statement on Tuesday, the source added.
He also spoke to ICRC officials in southern Gaza, who told the royals they had “no more words to describe what they were seeing and hearing,” according to British news agency PA Media.
In the coming days, he will go to a synagogue to participate in a discussion with young people from different communities who work against hatred and anti-Semitism.
William also this week unveiled a new housing initiative aimed at helping homeless people in the south-west of England. Using land on his private estate in the Duchy of Cornwall in Nansledan, Newquay, and working with a local charity, he aims to provide 24 purpose-built properties to support individuals in the area who experience homelessness.
Ben Murphy, the Duchy's estate director, said the Prince of Wales had “asked us to address the challenge of homelessness in Cornwall and other areas where the estate is located”.
“We will help people rebuild their lives, with training and employment opportunities, alongside the provision of more permanent housing that we are building,” Murphy said.
Construction is expected to begin in September, with the first houses completed by mid-December.
The approach was inspired by William’s “Homewards” program, a five-year, regionally-led plan across six UK sites that he launched with the Royal Foundation in June to demonstrate that it is possible to end homelessness.
One of the actions alone would normally have grabbed the headlines, but both, within days of each other, show that while William may have been briefly out of the public eye, he has been hard at work behind the scenes.
The British royal family has long taken a stance of political neutrality and generally does not comment on sensitive issues. But that has changed in recent years, when the family particularly feels it cannot simply sit idly by – as was the case with the show of support for Ukraine following Russia's invasion two years ago.
William's steps illustrate that he is not afraid to express his views on current issues, but in a way that does not overstep his actual position.
Royal sources told CNN that the British government was informed by the Foreign Office ahead of the prince's statement and commitments this week.
In the past, the family has faced criticism for owning vast tracts of land, while many have struggled to obtain affordable housing. William is trying to address this and developing an area he has spent years working on to raise awareness.
William's particularly candid approaches appear to be resonating, with both initiatives well received. He is dealing with the issues a little differently than his father and late grandmother, moving with the times and reflecting on the issues that his generation cares about – which will ultimately be the generation he will serve as king.
Source: CNN Brasil
Bruce Belcher is a seasoned author with over 5 years of experience in world news. He writes for online news websites and provides in-depth analysis on the world stock market. Bruce is known for his insightful perspectives and commitment to keeping the public informed.
