Prince supports Army families bereaved by suicide
THE Prince of Wales has spoken about the “power” in overcoming grief after losing loved ones as he expressed his support for Armed Forces families bereaved by suicide.
The Prince, 41, who lost his mother, Diana, Princess of Wales at 15, spoke of his experiences in a foreword to two guides published yesterday by Suicide Bereavement UK in support of veterans and families.
In it, he described how he and the Princess of Wales, 42, have met many bereaved families over the years. The Prince wrote: “There is no time limit to processing grief, but Catherine and I have met many bereaved families over the years and know the power that comes from sharing experiences, even in the most tragic of circumstances.”
The Prince added that it was “essential that the voices of those bereaved by suicide are heard” and told the bereaved families: “You are not alone.”
Today, the Prince will visit a food surplus distribution charity in Surrey and a youth centre in London. They are his first official engagements since March 22, when his wife said she is undergoing preventative chemotherapy.
His foreword for the two guides, produced by Suicide Bereavement UK and commissioned by NHS England, was published in support of veterans, families and serving personnel. The free At Your Side guides are based on the experiences and needs of those who took part in the Armed Forces Suicide Bereavement Study, including friends, colleagues, spouses, partners, adult children, parents or siblings of those who died by suicide.
The Prince, who served in the Army with the Blues and Royals as well as working as an RAF search and rescue pilot, described how the loss of a loved one to suicide can be a complex experience. He said he hoped the guides would act as a source of guidance and help to those who are processing loss “during what can be dark days of grief ”.