William helps hitmakers launch charity CD

Prince William has helped a host of hitmakers launch a charity CD which turns back the clock to help battle homelessness.

The album 1969: Key To Change sees the likes of The Feeling, Johnny Marr and Jools Holland sing favourites from the year which saw the launch of the charity Centrepoint.

As patron of the organisation, William took part in a photoshoot promoting the CD, although his musical talents were not needed in the recordings themselves.

Centrepoint has been helping the plight of socially excluded, homeless youngsters in London for 41 years.

To celebrate its work and help raise money, stars have selected tracks from 1969 and given them a fresh twist for the new album.

Jools Holland pairs up with Ruby Turner for a rendition of Billy Preston's You are So Beautiful.

The Smiths' former guitarist Johnny Marr opts for Rabbit Mackay's Tendency to be Free, whereas The Feeling go for the one-hit wonder In the Year 2525.

Holland said homelessness was a plight that he as a Londoner felt a special need to address: "The charity helps people who through no fault of their own get into difficulty, and it all happens under our noses. It is very important now to help these people."

He also praised William for his involvement.

"Royal involvement does help a charity. The profile of the charity is raised and when someone like Prince William are involved it increases the chance of it being a success," Holland said.

Homelessness is a topic close to the prince's heart, as it was to his mother; the Princess of Wales was patron of Centrepoint at the time of her death.

William accompanied his mother on visits to homeless shelters in London during his youth.

In December last year he spent a night sleeping rough in London - in temperatures that dropped to minus 4C - to raise awareness of the plight of the capital's homeless.

The album is available at centrepoint.fairsharemusic.com.