Prince William is detailing his experience with grief amid Prince Harry’s ongoing rift with the royal family.
“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,” William, 42, shared in a statement on Wednesday, May 14, announcing the merging of Child Bereavement U.K. (a charity for which he is a patron) and Winston’s Wish.
William detailed the “life-changing impact” of Child Bereavement U.K. in his statement, praising “the support, care and compassion” that the charity showcases.
“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,” William said. “They have recognized 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.”
Prince William Talks ‘Painful’ Experience of Losing Princess Diana
William has his own experience dealing with grief following the death of his mother, Princess Diana, in August 1997. He was 15 and Harry was 12 when she died at age 36 in a car crash in Paris.
His statement comes nearly two weeks after Harry, 40, detailed their family rift in a bombshell BBC interview. After losing his appeal in the ongoing battle for government-funded security, Harry claimed that his father, King Charles III, “won’t speak to me.” (Harry previously alluded to Charles being involved in the decision regarding his security.)
“I would love reconciliation with my family. There’s no point in continuing to fight anymore,” Harry said during his May 2 interview. “Life is precious. I don’t know how much longer my father has.”
Prince William and Prince Harry’s Complicated Relationship Over the Years
Harry’s rift with the royal family has only deepened since he and wife Meghan Markle decided to step away from their roles as senior working royals in 2020.
William has yet to publicly respond to his brother’s recent comments — and likely never will, a royal source hinted to Us Weekly exclusively.
“William doesn’t talk about Harry anymore,” the insider shared earlier this month. “Everyone knows it’s a subject that they shouldn’t bring up, so he hasn’t brought up the interview and won’t.”
The same source noted that William “is done” with his brother, telling Us, “When he becomes King, everybody thinks the divide will become even wider.”
