I miss my mother every single day, says William
THE Duke of Cambridge told a grieving teenager yesterday: ‘I still miss my mother every day.’
Prince William was visiting the Keech Hospice in Luton with his wife Kate in their first public engagement in the UK for a month after a family holiday in France.
The future king, who rarely speaks about his personal tragedy, comforted Ben Hines, 14, who lost his mother Alexandra to cancer last summer. She was 40.
In an emotional encounter, the prince rested his hand on the teenager’s forearm and said: ‘Time makes it easier. I know how you feel.’
Diana, Princess of Wales, died aged 36 in a car crash in Paris on August 31, 1997 – 19 years ago on Wednesday – when William was 15.
The prince urged Ben, his brothers Thomas, 20, and Richard, 24, and their father Gary, 48, to keep talking to each other. Saying men are not ‘great sharers’, he added: ‘Promise me that you will talk to each other.’ Thomas replied: ‘I promise, sir.’
Mr Hines, a gardener from Luton, said later: ‘He [William] gave Ben his absolute attention. You could see it struck a chord with him.’
During the hospice visit, Kate gave a hug to six-year-old Ethan Coniam, who lost his older brother Kieran two years ago. The ten-year-old had health problems including cerebral palsy, epilepsy and autism.
‘I love cuddles,’ said the duchess, after the youngster asked for one.