Prince William recently described grief as ‘the most painful experience that any child or parent can endure’.
At just 12 and 15 years old, Princes Harry and William lost their mother, Princess Diana, 28 years ago this week.
Both men have spoken about the impact of losing their mother at such a young age with Harry describing the feeling as a ‘gaping hole that could never be filled’.
Based on his own experience of loss, William became patron of Child Bereavement UK, a charity which Diana helped launch, on Mother’s Day in 2009.
Royal author Katie Nicholl wrote in her book, The Making of a Royal Romance: ‘Like their mother, who famously said she didn’t want to “just be a name on a letterhead”, neither William nor Harry wants to be figureheads.’
Nicholl wrote: ‘Ironically it is in the company of strangers that William allows his guard to slip.
‘When, as their new patron, he addressed The Child Bereavement Charity, he drew on his life in order to connect with ordinary people.’
William said in his address: ‘Never being able to say the word “Mummy” again in your life sounds like a small thing.
Prince William recently described grief as ‘the most painful experience that any child or parent can endure’. He is pictured with his brother and father at Princess Diana’s funeral on September 6, 1997
William’s mother, Princess Diana, shakes hands with a patient at the UK’s first dedicated HIV/AIDS unit at London Middlesex Hospital in April 1987
Throughout his life, William has committed himself to serving Diana’s charities and causes. He is pictured during a visit to Centrepoint, a charity which supports homeless youth on January 21, 2025
‘However for many, including me, it is now really just a word – hollow and evoking only memories.’
Throughout his life, William has committed himself to serving Diana’s charities and causes.
Like his mother, who famously held an Aids patient in her arms at a time when people thought you could contact the disease through touching, William has the common touch.
In 2009, William discussed the work of the Prince’s Foundation, saying: ‘There is a time and a place for being an ornament, or shaking people’s hands and being at an engagement.
‘But I think there’s an awful lot more from actually doing stuff.
‘You could just turn up and open things – and don’t get me wrong, there’s always a good reason to do that – but it’s about bringing some other things into it as as well.’
Nicholl wrote: ‘This is why William chose to spend his 27th birthday meeting former gangsters in an attempt to understand street culture in Britain and why he spent a night before Christmas sleeping on the streets of London in minus-four-degree temperatures.’
‘I hope that by deepening my understanding of the issue I can help do my bit to help the most vulnerable people on our streets,’ he said.
William talks with a young homeless person at a Centrepoint homeless hostel during his visit to the centre on December 20, 2006 in London, England. His mother Princess Diana was a previous Patron of the charity and is seen here on a visit to meet homeless people
William is pictured walking with a group of homeless young people helped by Centrepoint on a fell walk on July 24, 2009, in Cumbria
Royal author Katie Nicholl wrote in her book, The Making of a Royal Romance: ‘Like their mother, who famously said she didn’t want to “just be a name on a letterhead”, neither William nor Harry wants to be figureheads’
Vivienne Parry, a longtime friend of Princess Diana, wrote: ‘Diana was always passionate about her work with homeless people and William is the same.
‘It was amazing when he slept rough on the street and quite extraordinary that he was able to do that. Diana would have loved it.
‘Diana often said to me that she felt like an outsider and she identified with people who were struggling. I see that in William and Harry too.’
Earlier this year, William appeared visibly moved as he greeted young children supported by the Child Bereavement UK.
The charity, which is one of the Prince’s oldest patronages, is now in its 30th year and supports children and young people when someone important to them has died.
During his visit, the Prince met families and children who have been supported by it, as well as local staff and volunteers.
A source said of the visit that it would be ‘incredibly emotive and powerful’, adding: ‘The Prince is keen to shine a light on the important work the charity does day in, day out to support families at the most difficult time of their lives.’
When he became patron on the charity William, who was following in Diana’s footsteps as its figurehead, said he wanted to ‘continue my mother’s commitment to a charity which is very dear to me’.
William speaks at the Child Bereavement 25th birthday gala dinner at Kensington Palace on June 10, 2019
The Prince of Wales meets children who have been supported by the charity during a visit to the charity service on February 5, 2025
He added: ‘What my mother recognised back then – and what I understand now – is that grief is the most painful experience that any child or parent can endure.’
William has also continued his mother’s work for charities supporting homeless people.
In 2022, William wrote for The Big Issue: ‘I was 11 when I first visited a homeless shelter with my mother, who in her own inimitable style was determined to shine a light on an overlooked, misunderstood problem.’
The following year he launched a campaign to tackle the growing problem of homelessness and was spotted donning a red bib selling Big Issue magazines in West London.
The Prince of Wales has been an undercover Big Issue seller on previous occasions, putting on the red tabard and baseball cap, and surprising tourists near Victoria in central London.
Most recently, it was announced that Charles had granted permission to build 16 new homes for vulnerable youngsters in London on site owned by Duchy of Cornwall
It will see an existing building, 60 Sancroft Street, converted into flats which will be managed by Centrepoint, a charity partner in his ambitious Homewards coalition to end homelessness in six ‘flagship’ areas across the UK, within five years.
The flats in Kennington, south London, will be available for young people who have jobs, as well as those moving to towards employment, in the hope of testing new ways to break the cycle of homelessness amongst youngsters.
The scheme has been green lit by Lambeth Council and the first homes are expected to be delivered by the end of 2026.
It follows similar schemes championed by the future king in Aberdeen, Sheffield and Cornwall.
The Prince of Wales has been an undercover Big Issue seller on previous occasions, putting on the red tabard and baseball cap, and surprising tourists near Victoria in central London. He is pictured with Big Issue vendor Dave Martin in 2022
As the anniversary of Diana’s death passes, William is likely to reflect on how his mother influenced the person he is today. He is pictured during his first visit to a Centrepoint hostel for the homeless in Soho in January 1996
William’s Royal Foundation has committed to delivering innovative housing projects across each of his six flagship locations – Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole, Newport and Northern Ireland as well as Lambeth, Aberdeen and Sheffield.
As the anniversary of Diana’s death passes, William is likely to reflect on how his mother influenced the person he is today.
While losing a parent at a young age is a heartbreaking thing to go through, William has used both his position of power and his experience to help others.
He has also said that he is passing the lessons his mother taught him down to his children.
In 2023 William said he points out homeless people to his children during the school run and asks them why they think people are sleeping rough.
He candidly spoke of the conversations he has with his own children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis about homelessness to ensure they grow up knowing ‘some of us are very fortunate’ while ‘some of us need a little bit of a helping hand’.
