As a long-standing Patron of the charity Child Bereavement UK, Prince William visited the Widnes facility in Cheshire to speak to families and children who have been helped by the charity’s support services.

Services are offered free of charge and confidentially through various channels, including face-to-face meetings, telephone consultations, video calls, and instant messaging.

During his visit, The Prince of Wales had a heartfelt conversation with teenager Rebecca, 17, who lost her father. She explained: “I didn’t really know how I felt because it was very sudden. Child Bereavement UK helped me direct the way I felt about it.”

The future King, who lost his mother, Princess Diana, in 1997 when he was just 15 years old, said in a heartbreaking 12-word admission: “Sometimes the hardest thing is finding the words for how you feel.”

The Prince of Wales further explained: “It’s crucial those first few years particularly that you have support like this. It gets you in a practice to know how to help yourself going forward.”

Speaking after the meeting, Rebecca said: “He knows exactly the situation we’ve been in. He’s been in the same situation, around our age as well. I feel like it was good because he really understood.”

Child Bereavement UK provides essential support to children and young people up to age 25 who have experienced the death of someone important to them.

It also extends its impact through comprehensive training programmes for professionals across various sectors, including health and social care, education, and emergency services.

This professional development ensures that workers in both voluntary and corporate sectors are equipped to provide the best possible care to bereaved families.

Sue Randall, executive manager of Child Bereavement UK: “The prince has been involved since 2009 and he’s been brilliant as patron.

“He’s done all sorts of things for us and is always very helpful and tries to do as much as he can around our work.

“It gives us a profile by having such an amazing patron and personally he is very in tune with what we do.”

Before leaving, William was shown the charity’s “Before I Die” wall made up of messages from people detailing what they wanted to achieve before they died.

He laughed at one message which said: “Win the Fortnite cash cup.”

To find out more about the charity, Child Bereavement UK, click here.