Prince William Shares Family Life Snippets, Guinea Pigs, and a Commitment to Mental Health
Prince William, during a visit to Woodgate Valley Urban Farm in Birmingham, shared delightful details about his family life with Princess Kate and their three children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis. The family, residing at their Windsor home, enjoys the company of some furry friends—guinea pigs.
While engaging in an activity with a child at the farm, Prince William disclosed, “These guys are pretty cool. We’ve got guinea pigs at home and they’re not like this. I spend my life cleaning out the guinea pig cage because the children forget to do it.” He humorously added that their pets require constant attention, noting, “The ones we’ve got at home, they’re off. You have to keep them constantly stroked and looked after.” according to People.
His visit to the farm wasn’t just a casual outing; it had a deeper purpose. Woodgate Valley Urban Farm serves as a city farm focused on aiding children and young people who struggle with educational access or face mental health challenges. The farm, sprawled across six acres, offers a variety of therapeutic programs aimed at improving mental health and wellbeing. These programs are supported by the National Lottery and cater to small groups out of education, as well as sibling groups from a local children’s hospice.
The impact of the farm is significant, with children who visit regularly showing noticeable improvements in their mental health. This aligns closely with Prince William’s ongoing commitment to mental health awareness, particularly among men and boys.
Further emphasizing his dedication to mental health, Prince William recalled his recent visit to St Michael’s Church of England High School in Rowley Regis. The visit was a response to an invitation from Freddie Hadley, a 12-year-old student who had reached out through the social media platform X, told by Yahoo. At the school, Prince William interacted with young members of the school’s Matrix Project, a campaign aimed at addressing male mental health and breaking down the stigma associated with it.
During his interaction, he shared insights into his personal journey with mental health advocacy, telling the students, “It started really when I was doing lots of charitable work. I never set out to look into mental health, particularly male mental health. I was interested in homelessness, depression, addiction, all these separate areas and I hadn’t really put them altogether as a jigsaw – what are we looking at? What are we trying to fix? It all came together as a mental health piece.”
This heartfelt revelation not only highlights his role as a father but also underscores his deep involvement in critical social issues, marking him as an influential figure in the ongoing conversation about mental health.
Prince William said he was so happy stroking Snowflake the guinea pig at Woodgate Valley Urban Farm, just outside Birmingham, that he didn’t want to leave. He revealed that his kids always forget to clean out their own guinea pig, leaving him to do it 🥬 pic.twitter.com/yccwgD8iWV
— Victoria Ward (@victoria_ward) April 25, 2024