Prince William candidly discusses the difficulty of expressing grief during a visit to child bereavement UK.

Prince William has offered a rare glimpse into his personal experience with grief, speaking candidly about the challenges of finding the right words to express the pain of losing a loved one.

The Prince of Wales, during a visit to Child Bereavement UK this week, connected with children who have experienced similar losses.

He shared, “Sometimes the hardest thing about grief is finding the words for how you actually feel.” His words highlighted the often overwhelming and isolating nature of grief, especially for young people struggling to articulate their emotions.

William emphasised the importance of support during the initial years of bereavement, stating, “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.” He acknowledged the vital role organisations like Child Bereavement UK play in equipping young people with the tools to navigate their grief.

The Prince also touched upon the challenges of maintaining normalcy amidst grief, observing, “The mind gets focused on one thing, doesn’t it? It’s very difficult to do school and normal life.” He recognised the impact grief can have on concentration and daily routines.

During a conversation with a resident, Rebecca, 17, William asked, “Did you find it quite hard at the beginning to talk about how you felt?”

Rebecca replied, “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.”

Following the meeting, Rebecca shared her personal connection with Prince William, noting, “He knows exactly the situation we’ve been in. He’s been in the same situation, around our age as well. I feel like it was good because he really understood.” Her comments underscore the powerful impact of William’s empathy and shared experience.