“Prince William Breaks Silence on ‘The Worst Pain Any Child or Parent Will Ever Endure’”

Prince William Opens Up About Grief and Honours Two Bereavement Charities Merging Efforts

The Prince of Wales, 42, recently shared heartfelt words about the pain of loss as he announced the merger of two leading bereavement charities: Child Bereavement U.K. and Winston’s Wish.

“Grief is the deepest pain a parent or child can face,” Prince William stated. “While we can’t prevent such losses, we can make sure that families receive the highest level of expert care and support to help them heal.”

Having served as a patron for Child Bereavement U.K. for 16 years, Prince William has witnessed the powerful, transformative work the charity does. “The compassion, care, and guidance they offer truly protect the long-term wellbeing of those going through unimaginable grief,” he said.

He went on to express his enthusiasm for the charities’ decision to unite, saying, “There is a growing need for this kind of support. By coming together, these two organizations can reach more people and better address the long-term effects that unresolved grief can have.”

Prince William tragically lost his mother, Princess Diana, in a car crash on August 31, 1997, when he was just 15 years old. His brother, Prince Harry, was only 12 at the time.

Despite the trauma of his loss, William has remained a steady advocate for grief support. He will continue his role as patron following the charities’ merger. Child Bereavement U.K. was co-founded by Julia Samuel, a close friend of Princess Diana, who praised William’s ongoing commitment. “He has such empathy. People feel comforted when they meet him,” she said. “He has Diana’s sincerity—you can see it in his expression and hear it in his voice. He’s warm and direct, just like she was.”

Inspired by Diana’s Legacy

Prince William has often reflected on how his late mother influenced his desire to help others. In October 2024, he released Prince William: We Can End Homelessness, a two-part documentary highlighting the first year of his Homewards initiative, a five-year effort launched in June 2023 to make homelessness “rare, brief, and unrepeated.”

In the documentary, William recalled how Diana introduced him and Prince Harry to The Passage, a charity focused on ending homelessness. “I must have been about 10 or 11,” he said. “I didn’t know what to expect, and I was a bit nervous. But my mum had a way of making everyone feel at ease. She joked, laughed, and connected with people.”

He continued, “I assumed that because people were homeless, they would all be sad. But it was amazing how positive and uplifting the place felt. I remember playing chess and chatting with people, and that was the moment I realized not everyone lives the same kind of life. As a child, your world is so small—you think what you see is all there is. But then you meet someone who says, ‘I slept on the street last night,’ and it hits you. That memory stuck with me.”