Prince William Visibly Moved During Discussion of Suicide Prevention with Bereaved Widow
WIDNES, ENGLAND – Prince William became visibly emotional while speaking with a widow at a Child Bereavement UK center in Widnes, England, on Wednesday, February 5, during a visit focused on suicide prevention and grief support. The Prince,42,openly discussed his own experiences with loss and the importance of addressing the ongoing crisis of suicide in the U.K.
The emotional exchange occurred as William learned about the work of the bereavement charity, which holds close links too his late mother, Princess Diana. He spoke candidly about how loss focuses the mind and acknowledged the shared experience of grief with the widow, whose husband died by suicide. The visit coincided with the launch of the Royal Foundation’s National Suicide prevention Network, a new initiative backed by £1 million in funding over three years.
William’s commitment to the cause stems from personal experience, having lost his mother, Princess Diana, in 1997 when he was 15 years old. “The mind gets focused on one thing, doesn’t it?” William said, according to The Times. The Prince’s willingness to discuss his own grief underscores the broader aim of the national Suicide Prevention Network: to destigmatize conversations around suicide and provide crucial support to those affected.
The newly formed network unites four leading U.K. charities to tackle suicide through research into its root causes and by expanding access to support services nationwide. “The incredible partners who form this network reach those at risk of, or affected by, suicide with their inspirational work,” William stated. “Their efforts reaffirm the urgent mission of the National Suicide Prevention Network: to build a bold, unified national response to the heartbreaking – and preventable – tragedy of suicide.”
Suicide remains a important public health concern in the U.K. According to the Office for national Statistics, there were 5,583 suicides registered in England and Wales in 2022. The Royal Foundation’s initiative aims to address this crisis by fostering collaboration and innovation in suicide prevention efforts.
If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org.
