During an official visit to Church on the Street in Burnley, Lancashire, Prince William touched the hearts of royal fans with a touching interaction. The 39-year-old Duke of Cambridge connected with 11-year-old Deacon Glover, who recently lost his mother, and the two bonded over the shared experience of losing a parent at a young age.
As Prince William placed a comforting hand on Deacon's shoulder, he expressed empathy, saying, "I know how you feel." Having faced a similar tragedy himself at the age of 15 when his mother, Princess Diana, tragically passed away, the Duke understood the pain the young boy was going through.
During their emotional 15-minute conversation, Prince William reassured Deacon that "it gets easier," offering words of comfort and understanding. Despite the sorrowful topic, their talk was not devoid of joy. The pair discovered common interests, including a passion for football.
Noticing Deacon's Burnley FC football shirt, Prince William revealed that his father, Prince Charles, is also a fan of the team. He playfully shared that he himself is an Aston Villa fan and hopes his own children will follow suit, jokingly saying, "I need to spread the love a bit."
Prince William has been candid about his grief and the loss of his mother, who passed away 25 years ago. In 2015, he expressed, "What my mother recognized back then – and what I understand now – is that grief is the most painful experience that any child or parent can endure."
Breaking away from royal tradition, he has openly spoken about his sadness at the fact that his mother will never have the chance to meet his three children, Prince George (8), Princess Charlotte (6), and Prince Louis (3). In a 2017 interview, he revealed, "I would like to have had her advice. I would love her to have met Catherine and to have seen the children grow up. It makes me sad that she won't, that they will never know her."
Prince William's genuine and compassionate parenting style has touched the hearts of many, endearing him further to royal fans worldwide.
