Prince William reveals he has been volunteering for UK charity crisis helpline

The announcement came during the UK's National Volunteers Week

During a Zoom call, Britain's Prince William announced he has been volunteering for a UK crisis phoneline during lockdown. Reuters 

The Duke of Cambridge has revealed that he had been answering helpline calls and text messages on behalf of UK crisis helpline Shout 85258.

"I'm going to share a little secret with you guys ... I'm actually on the platform volunteering," Prince William told a group of fellow volunteers by Zoom video call, provoking a quiet round of applause from his wife, the Duchess of Cambridge.

According to the British Royal Family's website, "The Duke has been volunteering for Shout85258, the UK’s first 24/7 crisis text line which was launched in May 2019 by The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and The Duke and Duchess of Sussex.

"The Duke is one of more than 2000 Crisis Volunteers who are trained to support anyone, anytime, whatever their crisis may be."

The announcement marked the UK's Volunteers Week, which is taking place from June 1 to 7.

"It's National Volunteering Week and I want to say a big thank you from both of us," Prince William says in the video. The duchess then added: "These small acts of kindness, they go such a long way."

The couple have been making regular video calls to key workers, school children, foundations, volunteers and care homes from their Amner Hall home since going into isolation.

At the end of May, the couple tried they hand at being bingo callers for a virtual round of the game with a group of British senior citizens.

Back in April, the family visited the Queen's Sandringham Estate where they packed up and delivered food parcels to isolated pensioners in the local area. They shared photos of their daughter, Princess Charlotte, delivering the food packages to mark her fifth birthday.