'They Are Very Upset': How Prince William & Duchess Kate Are Explaining Prince Philip's Death To Their 3 Kids
As Prince William and Duchess Kate mourn the death of Prince Philip, they're also trying to help their three kids — Prince George, 7, Princess Charlotte, 5 and Prince Louis, 2 — understand the sad situation.
"William told George, Charlotte and Louis that Prince Philip has ‘gone to heaven’ and ‘is an angel now,'" a source dished to Us Weekly. "They’re still so young so he and Kate wanted to let them down gently."
"Naturally, the children are very upset, particularly George and Charlotte," added the source. "Louis is still very young and had only met Prince Philip a couple of times."
To help Philip's memory live on, the kids helped William pick out "a photograph of Prince Philip to hang in their home," the source revealed.
On April 12, three days after Philip died at age 99, William unveiled a never-before-seen photo of the late royal alongside Prince George.
The photo, which was from 2015, was snapped by Kate herself and pictured the tot and his great-grandfather in a carriage.
"My grandfather’s century of life was defined by service – to his country and Commonwealth, to his wife and Queen, and to our family," the caption to the Instagram post began. "I feel lucky to have not just had his example to guide me, but his enduring presence well into my own adult life – both through good times and the hardest days."
"I will always be grateful that my wife had so many years to get to know my grandfather and for the kindness he showed her," continued the father-of-three. "I will never take for granted the special memories my children will always have of their great-grandpa coming to collect them in his carriage and seeing for themselves his infectious sense of adventure as well as his mischievous sense of humour!"
"My grandfather was an extraordinary man and part of an extraordinary generation. Catherine and I will continue to do what he would have wanted and will support The Queen in the years ahead," he concluded. "I will miss my Grandpa, but I know he would want us to get on with the job."
Philip will be laid to rest in a small ceremony on April 17.