Prince William Makes Poignant Visit to Bereavement Charity with Close Links to His Mother Princess Diana

Prince William is honoring a child bereavement charity which had close links to his late mother, Princess Diana.

William, 42, visited a Child Bereavement UK center in Widnes, England, on Feb. 5. The prince, who succeeded Diana as the organization’s patron in 2009, spent about an hour meeting with families and children supported by the charity, as well as volunteers, long-standing supporters, and local staff who provide its bereavement support services.

William also chatted to a group of young people who shared their experiences of how the charity has supported them.

When Diana died in 1997, the prince was just 15. Julia Samuel, the charity’s founding patron, was a great friend of the princess’ and her links with the royal family continue today as she is also one of Prince George‘s godparents.

When William and his wife Princess Kate, 43, visited the charity’s London-based center in 2017, Samuel told PEOPLE, “Bereavement — and particularly child death, which is so unbearable to think about — is something William is shining a light on. He is helping us raise awareness in a way that no one else can do.”

“That’s because people can see how authentic, and heartfelt, he is and he’s experienced it. People can pick up authenticity within seconds.”

She added that the couple “put people at their ease by being so warm and so open and cracking jokes.”

“You can see the terror in peoples’ eyes as they walk in, and you can see that fall away within a few minutes as people realize they are normal. That is always kind of touching to see,” she said.

At the charity’s 21st birthday gala, in 2015, William spoke about how important it was for him to become its patron in 2009 and “to continue my mother’s commitment to a charity which is very dear to me.”

“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,” he said.

And when Child Bereavement UK turned 25 in 2019, William praised it in a speech, saying: “With great sympathy and sensitivity, you have spent the last 25 years working with children, young people and families to help them navigate the difficult path of grief. This is a path no one chooses. It has no map. And no end. But with careful support, it is a path that can become easier under foot.”

He added. “And you shine a beacon of light in the darkness as families learn to live with their loss, and find hope – and laughter – again.”

The visit on Feb. 5 came amid a busy period for William and Kate who is gradually returning to public royal duties following the news that she is in “remission” from cancer. On Feb. 4, Kate visited the National Portrait Gallery — with a group of happy schoolchildren — to promote the latest stage of her early years mission.