NONSENSE . . .THEY SHOWED HE REALLY CARES

WHEN I saw footage of Prince Harry failing to contain his emotion at the WellChild Awards, my heart went out to him.

My sons Henry, 31, and Freddie, 27, both need round-the-clock care, and I was deeply moved by the empathy and compassion the Prince showed.

He clearly didn’t mean to break down, and the audience knew that. When he bowed his head, hands gripping the lectern as he tried to collect himself, they rightly broke into applause.

As parents and carers of sick children, they could see, as I could, that here was a man who, for all his privilege, seems to understand and care deeply about how difficult life can be for them. I didn’t think it was ‘inappropriate’ or that he should ‘get a grip’, as some critics have said. Quite the opposite. To me, the tears he was choking back showed he ‘got it’. Most parents of healthy children never give a moment’s thought to what life would be like if their son or daughter had been born with severe health problems, or became seriously ill in childhood. They can’t imagine what it’s like to be more or less permanently exhausted and always desperate with worry. My husband and I have looked after the boys for more than 30 years and I haven’t had a proper night’s sleep in all that time.

Our eldest, Henry, is nearly 6ft tall, has terrible epilepsy and doesn’t talk, walk or feed himself. Freddie is mobile and full of life, but falls easily and is autistic and very hyperactive. I love them both dearly but life is hard, not only from looking after the boys but from fighting the system to get them the care they deserve. Often we feel abandoned, isolated from a world that doesn’t understand what we’re going through.

Prince Harry does understand, as he showed on Tuesday night. He was blessed with a healthy child, but his tears show he doesn’t take his good fortune for granted.

Talking to sick children and their parents and siblings, hearing of their pain, their struggles and the tremendous courage they show, is harrowing for anyone. But for Harry, who lost his mother when he was just 12 and is a new father himself . . . well, it’s no wonder he was briefly overcome.

I have encountered every type of human emotion towards my situation, from warm sympathy to unbelievably cold-hearted comments about my sons, such as ‘you should just get rid of them’.

For me, Harry was demonstrating nothing but his innate kindness. I only hope that some further good may come of it.