India, Aug. 14 -- In December 2009, long before launching his national Homewards initiative, Prince William, then in his late 20s, spent a freezing night sleeping on the streets of London to understand the reality of homelessness firsthand.

Bundled in a sleeping bag, the future king chose a secluded alleyway near garbage bins, joined by Centrepoint CEO Seyi Obakin, reported ABC. Temperatures dropped to -4degC and the night brought only bone-chilling cold but moments of danger, including a near miss with a road sweeper.

Speaking to ABC News then, Prince William had said that he could not even begin to imagine what it is like to "sleep rough" night after night. He said that with deepening his understanding, he hopes he can do his bit "to ...