Prince William reflects on profound grief and praises child bereavement charities joining forces

Prince William has opened up about the ‘very worst pain’ he had to ‘endure’ as a teenager, after drawing attention to the ‘increasing demand’ for one service in the UK.

Both William and his younger brother, Prince Harry, have publicly addressed their struggles with mental health—particularly in the years following the tragic death of their mother, Princess Diana, in 1997.

In 2019, the so-called ‘Fab Four’ (William, Kate, Harry, and Meghan) together announced the launch of Shout – a free text service which will provide 24/7 support for people experiencing a mental health crisis.

Now, William has taken the conversation further by opening up about his own experience with loss, describing grief as “the worst pain” a person can face, whether it be the death of a parent or a child.

It comes after the announcement that two of the UK’s leading child bereavement charities have joined together, after realising that they can ‘do so much more’, at a time where the services are really needed.

Child Bereavement UK and Winston’s Wish have stated that by coming together, they can offer parents, siblings, and children, the best care possible, and will be able to better train their professionals.

The Prince of Wales, who was just 15 when Princess Diana passed away, 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.”

Having served as Patron of Child Bereavement UK for sixteen years, Prince William highlighted the growing need for such services and welcomed the merger.

He added: “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.”

This collaboration will allow the two charities to extend their reach and offer a more comprehensive level of care to families dealing with loss.

William said: “They have recognised 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.”

Liz Gratton, the current chair of Winston’s Wish, said that she hopes the charities can ‘deliver new projects, expand reach, and serve a broader demographic of bereaved communities’ through their endeavours.