Prince William opens up about 'the very worst pain any child or parent will ever endure' as he attends private dinner for charity connected to Princess Diana
The Prince of Wales has opened up about grief, describing it as 'the very worst pain' a person 'will ever endure'.
Prince William was a teenager when he lost his mother, Diana, Princess of Wales, and has been the royal patron of Child Bereavement UK for 16 years.
The charity works to support children, young adults, parents and families dealing with grief and continuing with their lives after the loss of a loved one.
At a private dinner hosted by the organisation to celebrate its 30th anniversary on Tuesday, the 42-year-old addressed attendees, sharing a glimpse into his own experience with grief.
'Grief is the very worst pain any child or parent will ever endure, and while we cannot prevent these losses, we can ensure that every possible type of expert support and care is given, to help rebuild the lives of those affected,' he said.
In 1997, when William was just 15, he had to endure his own grief following the loss of his mother to a car crash in Paris as the world watched on.
He spoke of the Child Bereavement UK merger with fellow charity Winston's Wish, calling the move a 'bold step'.
'I have also seen the growing need for support of this kind, and it is because of this increasing demand that I am delighted that Child Bereavement UK and Winston's Wish are joining forces to expand their impact,' the royal said.
'They have recognised that together they can do so much more, and I commend them both for taking this bold step to reach more people and help to reduce the long-term challenges that unresolved grief can cause.'
This isn't the first time the Prince has spoken about his own grief.
Back in February, William visited Child Bereavement UK's facility in Widnes, the organisation's busiest service, where he met and spoke with young people being supported by the charity as well as volunteers, staff and supporters.
Speaking with 17-year-old Rebecca, who suddenly lost her father, he said: 'Sometimes the hardest thing about grief is finding the words for how you actually feel.'
'It's crucial in those first few years, particularly, that you have support like this...It gets you in a practice to know how to help yourself going forward.'
'The mind gets focused on one thing, doesn't it? It's very difficult to do school and normal life.'
During the visit, William appeared visibly moved as he greeted young children supported by the charity.
Rebecca said she felt he 'really understood' what they were going through because 'he's been in the same situation, around our age as well'.
One child told the prince she stopped going to school after the death of her grandmother.
'The mind gets focused on one thing, doesn't it? It's very difficult to be able to do school and normal life,' William responded.
A source said of the visit that it would be 'incredibly emotive and powerful', adding: 'The Prince is keen to shine a light on the important work the charity does day in, day out to support families at the most difficult time of their lives.'
When he became patron of the charity, William, who was following in Diana's footsteps as its figurehead, said he wanted to 'continue my mother's commitment to a charity which is very dear to me'.
He added: 'What my mother recognised back then - and what I understand now - is that grief is the most painful experience that any child or parent can endure.'
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