Prince William has been praised by former Prime Minister Gordon Brown for transforming public attitudes towards homelessness in the same way Princess Diana changed perceptions of Aids and landmines.

Speaking at an event marking the second anniversary of the Prince's Homewards initiative, Brown said William had been "very influenced by his mother" on the issue.

"His mother encouraged him to take an interest in why people were on the streets, and why people were homeless, and why people needed a better chance," Brown said at the event.

He added: "Remember, his mother changed people's views on Aids, his mother changed people's views on landmines, and I think he's changing people's view that you've got to think of a homeless person as an individual who has potential."

Prince William was compared to Princess Diana by former Prime Minister Gordon Brown for his work on homelessness

The Prince of Wales appeared on a discussion panel with Brown and Dragon's Den entrepreneur Steven Bartlett in Sheffield on Tuesday to mark two years since launching his homelessness campaign.

Brown praised the prince's involvement in tackling homelessness, saying "his passion, his dedication, his commitment shone through".

The former Labour PM, who now runs an anti-poverty charity, said William's focus on preventing homelessness and building partnerships was "really the way forward".

"He has got this huge convening power... so I think we're going to see something quite big here. The whole country should feel proud of what he's doing," Brown said.

Diana was celebrated for her work raising awareness for the Aids crisis and other pressing matters

The warmth was reciprocated, with Prince William speaking about the importance of working together, saying: "I feel less hopeful when I'm doing things by myself."

During the on-stage discussion, William said part of Homewards' aim was to "change the narrative around what homelessness is" and that "homelessness is always about housing, but it's not just about housing."

The prince emphasised that the initiative also examined employment opportunities for people who "have found themselves, for many reasons, not through their own making, outside of society."

"You are literally excluded from society unless somebody comes along with a good-natured heart and goes 'I'll give you a chance'," William told audience members.

The pair were speaking as part of the second anniversary of William's Homewards initiative, which aims to combat homelessness

"If we wait for that to happen, it's going to take a very long time to fix the problem."

The five-year campaign has now entered what William calls "delivery mode," with more than 100 initiatives established across six UK locations.

The Homewards project has forecast delivery of approximately 300 homes through its Innovative Housing Projects, comprising empty accommodation, private rentals and new builds.

The first residents moved into flats in Aberdeen in March after Homewards brought together a local housing association, high street retailers and others to provide and furnish the properties.

William celebrated the success of the project so far with Brown and business guru Steven Bartlett

Sheffield's first tenants are moving in this week.

The project has also launched a new early intervention initiative called Upstream in schools to identify young people most at risk of homelessness.

Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson participated in a discussion with Prince William about the scheme, which is being piloted at one of Sheffield's largest schools.

The programme is based on a project in Geelong, Australia, which has reduced youth homelessness by 40 per cent.