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

Prince William has spoken candidly about the “very worst pain” he endured in his youth, shedding light on the growing need for bereavement support services 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 then-called “Fab Four” — William, Kate, Harry, and Meghan — came together to launch Shout, a free, round-the-clock text line offering help to those facing mental health crises.

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.

His remarks follow the announcement that two of the UK’s most respected child bereavement organisations, Child Bereavement UK and Winston’s Wish, have officially joined forces. The move comes from a shared belief that together, they can offer even greater support to grieving families, at a time when such services are seeing a sharp rise in demand.

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.

“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,” he said.

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 continued:
“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, Chair of Winston’s Wish, echoed this hope, stating that the newly united organisation aims to “deliver new projects, expand reach, and serve a broader demographic of bereaved communities”.

The union of these two charities marks a significant stride toward better support for children and families struggling with the deep and lasting effects of grief—something Prince William knows all too well.