- A special edition of the magazine to mark his 40th Birthday, out from today, tells the story of what happened when HRH The Duke of Cambridge took to the streets to sell The Big Issue
- The Duke has written exclusively for The Big Issue about why he wanted to shine the spotlight on homelessness around his 40th birthday
- The magazine also includes an interview between Prince William and Dave Martin, the Big Issue vendor he joined to sell the magazine
Today (Monday, 20th June), The Big Issue has revealed the inside story of when HRH The Duke of Cambridge recently sold The Big Issue Magazine to mark his 40th birthday. He joined vendor Dave Martin, 60, on his pitch to draw attention to the work of the organisation and the issues of homelessness and poverty in the UK.
The Duke has also written exclusively for the magazine, sold by marginalised people in order to lift themselves out of poverty, about why he wanted to don a Big Issue tabard and find out more about the experiences of Big Issue vendors.
HRH Prince William wrote: “I was 11 when I first visited a homeless shelter with my mother, who in her own inimitable style was determined to shine a light on an overlooked, misunderstood problem. In the 30-odd years since, I’ve seen countless projects in this space grow from strength to strength, including charities of which I have had the honour of being Patron. New initiatives have been launched up and down the country – some have worked, some have not. But The Big Issue, perhaps now the most immediately recognisable of these organisations, has undeniably had an impact.
He continued: “I wanted to experience the other side and see what it was like to be a Big Issue vendor. My time was truly eye opening. I have always believed in using my platform to help tell those stories and to bring attention and action to those who are struggling. I plan to do that now I’m turning 40, even more than I have in the past. So, for my part, I commit to continue doing what I can to shine a spotlight on this solvable issue not just today, but in the months and years to come.” The full article can be read here.
Only a few days after the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, HRH The Duke of Cambridge sold the magazine on Rochester Row, close to Victoria in London with Dave Martin, Big Issue vendor. Together that afternoon they sold 32 copies. They then visited The Passage, a homelessness charity nearby that supports people who are street homeless or at risk of homelessness, of which the Duke became a Patron in 2019. It was to The Passage that Princess Diana brought her young sons to give them an insight into the challenges faced by people on the margins.
The Duke and Dave then interviewed each other about their Big Issue selling experience, homelessness, how the Jubilee brought the country together and much more. The conversation is available to read in The Big Issue magazine and website.