Prince William has recalled his grief over the death of Princess Diana, to a young boy who has recently lost his own mum.
- Prince William has shared a touching moment with a young boy whose mother passed away last year during his latest public engagement.
- The Duke of Cambridge, who lost his mother, Princess Diana, when he was just 15, reassured the 11-year-old football supporter that 'it gets easier'.
- In other royal news, the Queen believed Kate Middleton ‘needed a job’ before marrying Prince William.
Prince William has bonded with a young boy over their shared grief of losing a parent in their youth.
The heartwarming interaction occurred on Thursday when the future King and his wife, Kate Middleton, paid a visit to the Church on the Street in Burnley, Lancashire.
During their time at the center for vulnerable people, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge met Deacon Glover, whose mother, Grace Taylor, passed away at the age of 28 last year.
Prince William and Kate Middleton meet Deacon Glover in Burnley
It's understood that the 11-year-old was initially disappointed to hear of the royal couple's visit, having hoped that he would be introduced to a professional footballer instead.
The conversation grew warmer, however, as the future King opened up to the sports fanatic about his personal experiences of grief. Prince William lost his own mother, Princess Diana, in a car crash in 1997, when he was just 15 years old.
Prince William and Prince Harry lost their mother, Princess Diana, in 1997
"I know how you feel," he told Deacon, before reassuring him that the pain will subside in the future. "It gets easier."
William also found common ground with the young boy over a lighter subject - football. Deacon, a massive Burnley fan, appeared to perk up as the Duke revealed that he too shares connections with the Lancashire club. Apparently, Prince Charles also holds an affinity for Burnley, a.k.a. The Clarets, having directed some of his charities to work in the town.
“I only found out a few years ago that my dad is a Burnley fan,” William admitted.
Unfortunately, the 39-year-old couldn't bring himself to support the club himself, having championed Birmingham's Aston Villa since he was a child. William added that he hopes his own children, George, Charlotte, and Louis, will inherit his fervor for the notoriously midtable football team.
“I need to spread the love a bit,” he admitted.
Prince William and Kate Middleton spoke to Deacon and great-grandmother for about 15 minutes
In total, the Duke and Duchess spent 15 minutes speaking to Deacon and his great-grandmother.
It's understood that the couple had asked to visit the center after watching a 'moving' television report about its impact on the local community.
The facility was established in 2019 by ex-drug dealer Pastor Mick Fleming to help vulnerable individuals and families in Burnley and its surrounding neighborhoods. Today, the center, which is located in a rehoused gym, can accommodate up to 200 people at any given time. Service users have access to practical necessities like hot showers, laundry, a food bank, and a clothing bank. There's also a café, addiction and mental health support groups, as well as access to a qualified counselor.
