Prince William Opens Up About the 'Worst Pain' He Has Ever Had to 'Endure': ‘In My 16 Years…’

Prince William has had to overcome several difficulties in his life so far—from losing his mother at a young age, to watching his wife and father battle cancer, all the while feuding with his brother, Prince Harry. While the Prince is giving a cold shoulder to Harry, he has been a rock to King Charles and Kate Middleton in their sickness. William has also carried on Diana's legacy through his many charities. During a recent event for a charity, he gave a rare statement in which he opened up about what ‘grief’ means to him.

William recently announced the merging of Child Bereavement U.K. and Winston’s Wish, two charities that have been supporting bereaved children and their families since the 90s. In his statement, the Prince of Wales explained how grief is the ‘worst’ pain, and how these charities help provide the necessary care to the needy. He shared, “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 continued, “In my 16 years as patron of Child Bereavement U.K., I have seen the life-changing impact of their work and how the support, care and compassion provided protects the long-term health and wellbeing of those living with loss.” William further asserted that there is a growing need for such support, and that he is ‘delighted’ that the two charities will be working together to support those in need. He added, “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.”

William was alluding to his mother, Princess Diana. In 1997, at 15, he was forced to walk behind his mother’s coffin, which he later described as the ‘hardest thing’ he has ever done. Having endured grief at an early age, William has, on many occasions, shared how he sought inspiration from his late mother to help others. In the documentary Prince William: We Can End Homelessness, he recalled visiting The Passage, a center for the homeless, with his mother and younger brother in the early 90s. In 2023, he also launched a project to help the homeless.

Child Bereavement U.K. was also founded in part by Diana’s close friend, Julia Samuel, in 1994. William became a contributor to the organization in 2009 and has since stayed a dedicated member. According to People magazine, Samuel praised William for his dedication and said, “He has deep empathy that really comes across, which is why people feel better for meeting him.” She added, “He has the genuineness that Diana had. They can see it in his face and hear it in his voice. He is warm, but very direct, just as she was.”