London, December 23 (ANI): Prince William spent a rough night on the streets of London to experience the appalling conditions faced by the country’s homeless.

The second in line to the British throne cuddled up in a sleeping bag on cardboard boxes in an alley next to wheelie bins around Blackfriars Bridge in sub-zero temperatures.

The 27-year-old royal slept on makeshift beds alongside his private secretary, Jamie Lowther-Pinkerton, two bodyguards and Seyi Obakin, the chief executive of homeless charity Centrepoint.

The group was said to have been nearly run over by a road-sweeper truck during the ordeal.

“I cannot, after one night, even begin to imagine what it must be like to sleep rough on London’s streets night after night,” the Daily Express quoted the prince as saying.

“Poverty, mental illness, drug and alcohol dependency and family breakdown cause people to become and then stay homeless.

“I hope that by deepening my understanding of the issue I can help do my bit to help the most vulnerable on our streets,” he added.

His spokesman said: “I think he got a couple of hours sleep. They were all absolutely frozen by the morning.” (ANI)