The Duke of Cambridge told a 14-year-old boy grieving after the loss of his mum that he misses his mother, Diana, Princess of Wales “every day”.<\/p>\n
He shared the experience of his own personal loss while comforting Ben Hines who lost his mother Alexandra in June last year.<\/p>\n
The teenager, who has autism, is the younger of four brothers and told Prince William how he was struggling with the loss of his mother.<\/p>\n
Sympathetically resting his hand on the arm of the boy, he advised the family to stick together through their grief during a tour of a hospice.<\/p>\n
Recalling dealing with his bereavement on the eve of the 19th anniversary of Diana’s death, Prince William said: “As four boys, you have to talk a lot better – we’re not good sharers. It’s a classic example of lots of talking needed.”<\/p>\n
Ben shared some treasured memories of his mother before she died, before saying “I miss her so much”.<\/p>\n
Prince William replied: “Time makes it easier.<\/p>\n
“I know how you feel, I still miss my mother every day and it’s 20 years after she died.<\/p>\n
“The important thing is to talk about it as a family, it’s okay to feel sad, it’s okay for you to miss her.”<\/p>\n
Before leaving the family, who he met as part of a tour of Keech Hospice Care in Luton as it celebrates its 25th anniversary, William said: “Promise me you will talk to each other.”<\/p>\n
Thomas Hines, the 20-year-old brother to Ben, replied: “I promise, sir.”<\/p>\n
The royal couple were presented with a memory jar by children at the hospice. Credit: PA<\/p>\n
The Hines family had been receiving post-bereavement care at the hospice following Alexandra’s death from a rare form of tumour.<\/p>\n
Gary Hines, 48, father to the boys and husband to Alexandra, said of William: “He gave Ben his absolute attention and you could see that it struck a chord with him, he put his hand on Ben’s shoulder and told him time’s a healer and to stick together and talk.”<\/p>\n
During the visit, William, who was accompanied by his wife the Duchess of Cambridge, also met Jamie and Ethan Coniam, who are 10 and six, who lost their brother Kieran when he was 10 after a battle with cerebal palsy, epilepsy and autism.<\/p>\n
The pair presented the royal couple with a “memory jar”, to which they can add coloured sand to represent individual memories of a person.<\/p>\n
Before they parted company, Ethan asked Kate if he could have a hug.<\/p>\n
His mother Fiona said the Duchess replied: “Yes, of course, I love cuddles.”<\/p>\n
Kate is handed some flowers during a visit to Bute Mills Youthscape centre in Luton. Credit: PA<\/p>\n
Earlier in the day, the Duke and Duchess had praised the courage of girls who have recovered from mental health difficulties and self-harming during a visit to the Youthscape centre in Luton.<\/p>\n