Prince William Speaks Out Against Anti-LGBT Bullying

In what is apparently a first for the royal family of the United Kingdom, Prince William has spoken out strongly against homophobia.

Attending an antibullying workshop at a British school Monday, the prince (pictured above) said that if he witnessed anti-LGBT bullying, he would comfort the victim and confront the attacker, U.K. website Pink News reports.

"Referring to a chart of how to tackle homophobia, he said: 'I would start on that side [comfort the victim] and end up here [confront the bully],'" the site reports.

Members of the royal family have historically avoided discussing LGBT issues, Pink News notes, partly because 90 percent of the population of the British Commonwealth lives under some form of anti-LGBT law. The commonwealth is a voluntary association of 53 independent nations, many of which were once British colonies. No royal has even spoken in support of same-sex marriage, which is legal in most of the U.K.

Accompanying Prince William to the Hammersmith Academy were Education Secretary and Equalities Minister Nicky Morgan and staff of the Diana Award, named for the prince's late mother. Staff members run antibullying workshops around the nation.

"Though the comments may seem minor, they are a strong statement of intent from the future Monarch -- who may one day be charged with deciding to 'confront' anti-gay leaders from across the Commonwealth," Pink News reports. William, who holds the title Duke of Cambridge, is second in line for the British throne. His father, Prince Charles, Duke of Windsor, is first.

The site also notes that while in the Royal Air Force, William served with a transgender pilot.