TV PRESENTER Gail Porter has backed a campaign by Prince William to end homelessness.
And she believes he’s the perfect figurehead to drive change despite his priveleged background.
The 53-year-old, who became homeless in 2015 when she suffered mental health issues, was speaking ahead an an ITV documentary being screened this week’s on the Prince’s mission.
In it, she meets up with the Royal who she said has the “clout” to drive change.
She said: “People have said to me, ‘What does he know about homelessness?’
But they also say to me, ‘I don’t believe you were really homeless ’.
It’s not the sort of thing I would make up. I was homeless.
It all went wrong for me. One thing led to another and another. I was embarrassed and ashamed. I didn’t want to tell anyone and didn’t know where to go or who to speak to.
So to have someone like Prince William doing this amazing campaign gives people access to not feel ashamed.”
Gail rose to fame in the 90s and 2000s but after losing her hair due to alopecia and bouts of depression, self-harm, anorexia and a breakdown, the star found herself out of work with nowhere to go.
Having turned her life around, she supports homeless charities and was stunned to received a request to take part in Prince William’s documentary.
She said: “When I got the Palace invite to be involved I thought it was amazing.
“From being sat on a bench in Hampstead Health with nothing thinking this is a nightmare.
“To be able to get involved and help other people.
“We all just want to make a difference and he certainly has a lot of clout.”
The two part ITV documentary shows the Prince of Wales like he’s never been seen before.
He vows to use his position to make a difference with his ambitious Homewards project.
And he opens up about educating his children about the issue – just as Princess Diana did with him and brother Harry.
William said: “I have taken some inspiration and guidance from what my mother did, partic- ularly with homelessness. And that has grown more over the last few years.
“When I was very small my mother started talking about homelessness – much like I do now with my children on the school run.”
Six Homewards project locations -including one in Aberdeen feature in the documentary, Prince William: We Can End Homelessness.
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