Prince William fought back tears during an emotional conversation with a woman who lost her husband to suicide.
In a new short film released by Kensington Palace on Friday, October 10, the Prince of Wales, 43, visited the Cardiff, Wales, home of Rhian Mannings to discuss suicide prevention and bereavement support. Mannings’ husband, Paul, died by suicide in 2012 just five days after their 1-year-old son, George, died suddenly due to illness.
The video was released Friday to mark both the launch of The Royal Foundation of The Prince and Princess of Wales’ National Suicide Prevention Network and World Mental Health Day.
“The best way to prevent suicide is to talk about it. Talk about it early, talk about it with your loved ones, those you trust, your friends,” William told Mannings during a conversation at her dining table. “So, thank you for talking about it.”
William asked Mannings about how she coped with her husband’s untimely death, noting, “From the families I’ve spoken to who have had to endure suicide, there’s a lot of unanswered questions that live with you forever, really, don’t they?”
“I will forever go over those last few days with him, wondering what I missed,” Mannings responded. “Before we lost George, we were just so happy. And I think this just shows that it really can happen to anyone.”
“If you could say something, or wanted to say something, to Paul, what would you have said?” the royal then asked.
“There’s only one thing I would ever say to him if I had time with him. And that would be, ‘Why didn’t you speak to me?’ I ask myself that every single day,” Mannings answered. “I would just like to sit him down like this and just say, ‘Why didn’t you come to me?’ Because he’s missed out on just so much joy, and we would have been OK. And I think that’s what the hardest thing is, we would have been OK.”
Mannings’ candid response made William emotional, as he appeared to get teary-eyed and put his hand up to his mouth.
“I’m sorry, it’s just hard to ask these questions,” William told Mannings, holding her hand.
Mannings assured the prince, “No, it’s fine. It’s just you’ve got children. It’s hard.”
“And you’ve experienced loss yourself,” she added, referring to William’s mother, Princess Diana, who died in 1997 when the prince was just 15.
In addition to the short film, William and wife Princess Kate Middleton’s Royal Foundation launched its new National Suicide Prevention Network of four leading U.K. charities, which will unite to tackle the issue of suicide through research into the root causes of suicide and by providing support to anyone in the U.K. who might need it. The Royal Foundation has committed an initial investment of £1 million over three years to the project.
“The incredible partners who form this network reach those at risk of, or affected by, suicide with their inspirational work,” William said in a statement. “I have had the privilege of meeting all of the founding partners to see firsthand their powerful community-based efforts to offer hope and support to those who need it most. Their efforts reaffirm the urgent mission of the National Suicide Prevention Network: to build a bold, unified national response to the heartbreaking — and preventable — tragedy of suicide.”
If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org.
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