She is the chirpy, down-to-earth Scot who picked herself up after her television career hit rock bottom and she was beset by mental health problems, while he is the heir apparent to the British throne.
Nevertheless, their shared concern for the plight of the homeless has led to the unlikeliest of friendships that ignores royal protocol and dispenses with any need to stand on ceremony.
Since starting in children’s television before branching out into modelling and mainstream TV in the 1990s, Gail Porter hasn’t had her troubles to seek.
She lost her hair in 2005 through alopecia, which led to her being broke and homeless for six months after job offers dried up.
She also struggled with depression and bipolar disorder and in 2011 was sectioned for 17 days.
Once she was back on her feet, the Edinburgh- born presenter threw herself into charity work for the homeless – a cause that has cemented a close bond with Prince William.
She caused a stir when first meeting the royal, when instead of shaking his hand she ignored normal protocol and gave him a huge hug.
The 54-year-old told The Mail on Sunday about the special bond she now shares with the Prince of Wales – a friendship that began last year when she was invited to Windsor to become an advocate for his charity, Homewards.
The pair’s unlikely friendship began last year when she was invited to Windsor to become an advocate for his charity and has grown from strength to strength.
The pair have bonded over their shared concern for those suffering the plight of homelessness.
‘It took me by surprise when I got the letter with the royal seal. My first thought was what have I done wrong?
‘But it was signed by Prince William, and it said he’d like me to come and have a chat about his Homewards idea and how he’s hoping to eradicate homelessness in the next few years.’
Homeless charities have always been close to Gail’s heart, ever since she was declared bankrupt in 2017 and was forced to sleep rough and spend six months on friends’ sofas and in their spare rooms.
‘No one knew. I was too embarrassed to tell anyone I was homeless. It can happen to anyone, but I never thought it would happen to me,’ added Gail, who began her career on Children’s BBC Scotland, Top of the Pops, Children in Need and The Big Breakfast
Desperate to help others in the same plight, Gail had no hesitation in rising to the occasion when she received William’s letter.
But when she met him for the first time to discuss the charity, she was unfazed by the imposing surroundings of Windsor Castle and the presence of royal courtiers and was her usual chatty, warm self.
‘Everyone else was shaking William’s hand but I just went in for a hug. When my friends saw it in the papers, they said, “Oh my God, you didn’t just do that!”
‘But he’s just another human and now he’s used to me going in for a hug every time we meet.
‘He must have known about my background and when I was leaving, he said, “Is everything all right with you now?” And I said, “Yeah, it’s all right.” And he said, “Okay, I’m glad.”
‘We all need to feel we belong and that we are not nothing, and Prince William makes those connections. He really listens and is interested, and then he acts. He doesn’t just nod sympathetically.’
Ms Porter is known as the chirpy, down-to-earth Scot who famously struggled after her TV career hit rock bottom.
For Gail Porter, Prince William is ‘just another human’ and they always go in for a hug whenever they see each other.
Gail was so impressed by Prince William that she readily agreed to be an advocate for Homewards.
The £500,000 five-year project funded by the Royal Foundation to help homeless people find accommodation and employment is working in six locations across the UK – Aberdeen, Lambeth in London, Bournemouth, Sheffield, Northern Ireland and Newport.
‘I’m 100 per cent behind it because it’s the most I’ve seen happen about homelessness since I was homeless,’ said Gail.
‘William has a platform he can use for good, and that’s what he’s doing, and I think it’s admirable. He’s a really nice person and I genuinely believe it all comes from the heart.
‘He talked about how his concern with the homeless went back to his mum taking him to a homeless shelter.’
William spoke in a recent documentary about how apprehensive he was the first time Princess Diana took him and his brother Harry to a rough sleeping shelter in London.
‘My mother took me to The Passage. I must have been about 11, maybe ten. I’d never seen anything like that before and I was a bit anxious about what to expect,’ he told We Can End Homelessness on Disney+.
‘My mother went about her usual part of making everyone feel relaxed and having a laugh and joking with everyone.
‘I remember at the time kind of thinking, “well, if everyone’s not got a home, they’re all going to be really sad”. But it was incredible how happy an environment it was.’
Since joining Homewards, Gail has warmed to William not only for his charitable efforts but because of their shared sense of humour.
Last month she spent the day with William in Aberdeen to celebrate the charity providing its first housing, a one-bed flat, in the city.
It was an opportunity for the 42-year-old to tease Gail.
‘He’s really cheeky. When he came out the car carrying a bunch of flowers for the tenant, he said “Hi Gail, by the way these are not for you.’”
Later, at a dinner, she was seated next to the prince and was given his speech to look after.
‘William said, “Have you had this the whole time? I hope you haven’t done anything to it.”
When he got up to the podium, he said, “I’m a bit nervous because Gail’s been looking after this.” And I said, “I haven’t done anything. Or have I?”’
Gail recalled another occasion when William couldn’t resist some banter. ‘I was at Edinburgh Castle last year with Ian Rankin [the crime writer] to celebrate the capital’s 900th anniversary and I met Charles and Camilla.
‘The next day I said to William, “I met your dad yesterday,” and he said, “What are you doing hanging around the family?”
‘He’s just a fun guy. And he really believes in what he’s doing.
‘He takes the stick that he gets for living where he lives and then trying to help homelessness.’
Gail was referring to the documentary in which the prince admitted that a campaign to end homelessness led by a man with several homes can draw criticism.
‘I come with no other agenda than desperately trying to help people who are in need,’ he said.
Gail is sure her connection with the prince will only become stronger.
‘It’s incredible the difference the charity has already made to people’s lives and how many people who can pull strings have come forward, all because of William.’
