William met Burrow’s three children – Macy, Maya and Jackson – his wife Lindsey, and his fundraising teammate Kevin Sinfield at the first purpose-built centre dedicated entirely to MND care, research and support – fulfilling a promise he made to him before he died last year.
The Rob Burrow Centre for Motor Neurone Disease (MND) was the dream of the Leeds Rhinos star and his consultant Dr Agam Jung, who also talked to William at the facility in Leeds which provides a new “one-stop-shop” for patients and their families.
The Prince of Wales meets Ian Flatt and his wife Rachael Flatt (Image: Temilade Adelaja/PA Wire)
Prince William in Leeds
William made Burrow a CBE at the Rhinos’ Headingley Stadium in January 2024, along with Sinfield, and the father-of-three asked the Prince of Wales then if he would open the centre when it was built.
Burrow died five months later, at the age of 41, following a four-and-a-half-year battle with MND during which he devoted himself to raising awareness and money for treatment and research.
William arrived at the centre, which is in the grounds of Seacroft Hospital in Leeds, on Thursday morning, thanking everyone for waiting outside in the freezing weather.
The Prince of Wales speaks with Lindsey Burrow, wife of the late rugby league player Rob Burrow, and their children Macy, Maya and Jackson (Image: Temilade Adelaja/PA Wire)
‘You should be really proud of your mum and dad’
When he met Burrow’s children before the formal ceremony, Macy thanked him for writing to her family, saying; “It gave us all a lot of comfort.”
William told her: “Not at all.
“Honestly, I’m so proud of you guys. You’ve done all the hard work.
“You should be really proud of your mum and dad.”
And he said: “You’re going to help a lot of people.”
Mrs Burrow said: “It such a special day for the family.
“To have the prince come and open the centre is a really special day.”
The Prince of Wales during a visit to the Rob Burrow Centre for Motor Neurone Disease at Seacroft Hospital in Leeds (Image: Temilade Adelaja/PA Wire)
Prince William kept his word
Mrs Burrow added: “Rob asked him ‘would you come and open the centre’, and he’s kept his word.
“So to have him here today is a huge honour and privilege.”
She said: “I think it just shows his kindness and consideration.
“He wrote to us after we lost Rob and it was a really heartfelt message. And that’s something we take a lot of comfort from.”
Sinfield said: “I think he’s a man of his word and he’s been a massive supporter of the work we’ve done, the running we’ve done, the campaigning we’ve done.”
He said: “Rob would have been so proud of it (the centre). He would’ve loved to have seen it today.”