Prince William spoke at the 21st anniversary of Child Bereavement UK, which Gary Barlow also attended
At the 21st anniversary of Child Bereavement UK, second in line to the throne, 33-year-old Prince William, opened up and gave an emotional speech about his own personal pain felt during his mother’s death in 1997, and how inspiring Princess Diana’s work with bereaved families was.
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‘What my mother recognized back then – and what I understand now – is that grief is the most painful experience that any child or patent can endure.’
Princess Diana attended the launch of the Child Bereavement Charity 21 years ago, and now 15 years later, Prince Williams said it was his honour ‘to be invited to become Patron of Child Bereavement UK’ to continue his mother’s commitment that’s understandably very dear to him.
‘My mother was determined to help those in need and she would have been immensely proud – as I am – of all that Child Bereavement UK has achieved these last 21 years.’
The prince went on to express how he has ‘witnessed first-hand the difference CBUK has made – and continues to make – to the lives of bereaved families.’
Child Bereavement UK worked with military families, and with children whose lives are torn apart by the inexplicable death of a parent.
The prince, married to wife Kate Middleton, spoke about how amazing it is that ‘amid all this misery, CBUK – and I don’t know how they do this – brings warmth, comfort, a guiding hand, a way through, even colour and joyfulness, and a renewed opportunity for love as a family reknits itself after tragedy.’
CBUK’s moving humanity not only hit a chord with Prince William, who said that ‘as a father to two young children, I now appreciate it all the more’, but also was relatable to Take That singer Gary Barlow, who sadly with wife Dawn, were left devastated in 2012 when their daughter Poppy was stillborn.
‘Dawn and I have always felt our own personal bereavement was too painful and private to talk or comment on publicly.’
‘Instead I will sing joyous music in support of Child Bereavement UK to say thank you for all the help it has given us and many other families.’
The 21st anniversary of Child Bereavement UK took place at the Banqueting Hall in London.
The post Prince William’s emotional tribute to Princess Diana: I understand what grief can feel like appeared first on Now magazine.