The Prince of Wales made a poignant visit to Cheshire, where he met with young people and families at Child Bereavement UK’s centre in Widnes. As a long-standing Patron of the charity, Prince William took time to listen to the personal stories of those who have received support following the loss of a loved one.
Child Bereavement UK provides vital assistance to children and young people up to the age of 25 who have experienced bereavement, as well as parents who have lost a child. The organisation also offers professional training to those working with grieving families, helping them provide compassionate and effective support.
Dressed in a dark blazer and trousers, the heir to the throne engaged in heartfelt conversations with attendees, acknowledging the complexities of grief and the importance of finding the right support.
Reflecting on his own loss of his mother, Princess Diana, at the age of 15, William spoke candidly about the challenges of navigating bereavement: “sometimes the hardest thing about grief is finding the words for how you actually feel,” he said. “It’s crucial for those first few years, particularly, [that] you have support like this. It’s got you in your practice, how to help yourself. The mind gets focused on one thing, doesn’t it? It’s very difficult to do school and normal life.”
Among those he spoke to was 17-year-old Rebecca, who lost her father and received support from Child Bereavement UK. William asked her, “Did you find it quite hard at the beginning to talk about how you felt?”
Rebecca responded: “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.”
Prince William visiting a Child Bereavement UK centre. (Kensington Palace)
During his visit, William also met privately with bereaved parents and spent time with volunteers, long-standing supporters, and the dedicated staff who provide bereavement support services in the community.
In a lighter moment, the prince chatted with 16-year-old boxer Clayton from Nottingham, who began fundraising for the charity after his coach used its services following the loss of his daughter. When asked if he liked boxing, William smiled and admitted: “No, I don’t mind throwing a few punches around but not at your level. It’s exhausting as well.”
Before leaving, Prince William was shown the centre’s “Before I Die” wall, a collection of messages where people share their aspirations. One note in particular caught his eye, as he laughed at a message that read: “Win the Fortnite cash cup.”
The Widnes bereavement centre is the charity’s busiest in the UK, with a team of seven Bereavement Support Practitioners, including outreach workers in Cumbria. The organisation offers free, confidential support through in-person meetings, telephone calls, video chats, and instant messaging.
The Prince, succeeded his late mother, Diana, Princess of Wales, as the organisation’s Patron in 2009 and has a longstanding history in supporting the charity since, including taking part in the charity’s fundraising campaign in 2017.
During the charity’s 21st birthday gala in 2015, William spoke about how important it was for him to become its Patron and ‘to continue my mother’s commitment to a charity which is very dear to me. What my mother recognized back then and what I understand now is that grief is the most painful experience that any child or parent can endure’.
Additionally, when Child Bereavement UK turned 25, Prince William once again praised the charity stating: ‘With great sympathy and sensitivity, you have spent the last 25 years working with children, young people and families to help them navigate the difficult path of grief. This is a path no one chooses. It has no map and no end. But with careful support, it is a path that can become easier under foot. And you shine a beacon of light in the darkness as families learn to live with their loss, and find hope and laughter again’.
Prince William’s visit not only highlighted the crucial work of Child Bereavement UK but also served as a reminder of the importance of open conversations about grief. His ability to connect with young people through shared experiences continues to make a lasting impact, offering comfort and support to those navigating the difficult path of loss.
