In the best launch to her journalism career she could have dreamed of 24-year-old Sophia Kichou landed an exclusive interview with Prince William for a story that will come out in The Big Issue in the UK tonight.
In a fabulously warm encounter the often media-shy Duke of Cambridge freely chatted about the ball of energy in his Anmer Hall home that is plucky Prince George, and what Christmas is likely to look like for the family of four.
“George will be bouncing around like a rabbit… because he’s suddenly worked out what Christmas is all about,” said the Prince in an unusually frank and open interview.
“If I get any sleep on Christmas Eve it’ll be good,” he added, “that will be two children, one who suddenly appreciates Christmas, which could be quite challenging. But I’m looking forward to it.”
The Duke also talked about the influence of his mother Diana, Princess of Wales who first introduced her son to the plight of Britain’s homeless and took both William and Harry as children to meet youths living on the streets at the Centrepoint shelter of which William is now Patron.
“I still believe it’s possible to end youth homelessness. It’s complex. But it’s fixable,” the Prince tells Sophia in the interview.
Prince William and Sophia Kichou.
The story was the result of a promise Prince William made to the British trainee journalist some years ago.
Sophia Kichou lost her mother at a young age and became homeless at 18 when it became unsafe to stay with her alcoholic father. She met The Duke of Cambridge while staying in the Centrepoint hostel in central London and told him her dreams of becoming a journalist.
He agreed that if she made it, one day she could interview him.
After some setbacks Sophia battled to get in to one of Britain’s top journalist colleges where she is now completing her studies. And so her moment arrived when some weeks ago she was invited to Kensington Palace to chat to The Duke about youth homelessness, careers and Christmas.
“Interviewing Prince William was a very significant moment in my career,” says an excited Sophia.
“At the beginning, I was a little nervous but as the interview went on, my nerves calmed down and I began to enjoy it. I am very grateful to everyone who helped make this happen.”
