Royal snub for Arlington House visit? Mayor’s Prince invite ‘lost’

Published: 17 February 2011
by TOM FOOT

THE Prince of Wales visited Arlington House hostel for the homeless yesterday (Wednesday) – but the Mayor wasn’t there to greet him.

An invitation from organisers Business in the Community was not passed on to the office of first citizen Councillor Jonathan Simpson. It meant a housing officer was the only representative from the council at the Camden Town event.

A Town Hall spokesman said last night (Wednesday) that his team was working to “iron out” the “technical problems” that led to the email not being passed on.

Mayor Jonathan Simpson said: “I’m confident it was a slight oversight but no, I didn’t get an invite. I met him [Prince Charles] at the Jewish Museum before Christmas, but it would have been lovely to meet him again.”

The Prince called on businesses to help homeless people back into work.

He praised Business in the Community’s Business Action On Homelessness Campaign that has helped 2,000 find employment.

“In recent years it has been all too easy to forget this – particularly if business is booming – but there are signs that the problems are creeping up on us again,” said the Prince. 

“In the last six months the number of homeless people has begun to rise and, as our economy continues to struggle, I fear this trend may continue.”