Amid family tensions, UK's Prince William shares childhood memory with estranged brother Prince Harry in documentary

Harry, who stepped back from royal duties in 2020 and relocated to California with Meghan Markle, added to the strain with the release of his memoir in January 2023.

William reminisced about the moment in his upcoming ITV documentary, “Prince William: We Can End Homelessness”.

In a released segment, William recalls a visit organized by their late mother, Princess Diana, who took him and Harry to The Passage, a charity supporting homeless people in the UK.

The documentary, set to be broadcast on October 30 and 31 on ITV in the UK, explores William's deep commitment to homelessness — a cause introduced to him by Diana.

"My mother took me to The Passage; she took Harry and I both there. I must have been 11 at the time, maybe 10," he remembered. "I had never been to anything like that before, and I was a bit anxious about what to expect."

He described his mother’s warmth and her effect on those around her.

"My mother went about her usual, making everyone feel relaxed, having a laugh and joking with everyone. I remember 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 said.

The experience, he explained, opened his eyes to different lives and perspectives.

"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," William said.

"When you're quite small, you just think life is what you see in front of you. 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 added.

Apart from William’s dedication to end homelessness, this documentary has also drawn attention as he is seen speaking publicly about his brother amid reports of tension amid already strained family ties.

Over the summer, reports indicated that while the brothers' relationship remains strained, it could still be repaired.

One source of friction came when Prince Harry requested additional security for his family during UK visits, creating further discord with the royal family, media reports said.

Sources told Page Six that King Charles had reportedly stopped communicating with Harry, despite Harry's attempts to inquire about his father’s health following a reported cancer diagnosis.

A royal insider suggested that a path to reconciliation between father and son might hinge on granting Harry the enhanced security he has long requested. "As the monarch, he is the ultimate decision-maker. That would be how father and son can reconcile," the source said.

Several reports also claim that Prince Harry may not be invited when Prince William eventually becomes king.