For the second year running, Prince William joined a vendor of The Big Issue to help sell copies in the run-up to Christmas.

Wearing a Big Issue tabard, official identification and matching baseball cap, the Prince of Wales was pictured with his arm around Dave Martin at his pitch outside a branch of Tesco in Hammersmith, west London, on Tuesday morning.

William, who later attended a reception for members of the Diplomatic Corps at Buckingham Palace, said on X: “Great to be back with Dave, selling the latest edition of the @BigIssue once again!”

The pair, who have stayed in contact since meeting last year, also exchanged Christmas cards.

They first met last summer when the then-Duke of Cambridge joined him to raise awareness of The Big Issue and the issues surrounding homelessness and poverty in the UK.

They sold 32 copies the first time around.

Speaking to the magazine’s website, Mr Martin said: “It was very nice to see Prince William again. It was surreal but he was so friendly. He was concerned about me and about the homeless people.

“There were good vibes from everyone – it’s been a great day.”

Image:
Queen Camilla, King Charles and the Prince and Princess of Wales pose for a photograph before The Diplomatic Reception at Buckingham Palace

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Homelessness is a subject close to William’s heart and earlier this year, he launched his Homewards project to help end it in the UK.

He has set his sights on making rough sleeping, sofa surfing and other forms of temporary accommodation a thing of the past as he tries to emulate Finland, where the problem has been virtually eradicated.

The five-year project will initially focus on six locations where local businesses, organisations and individuals will be encouraged to join forces and develop action plans to tackle homelessness with up to £500,000 in funding.