The royal is patron of Child Bereavement UK.

Photo: Aaron Chown/Getty Images

Prince William is opening up about the pain he experienced after his mother, Princess Diana, died in a tragic car accident in 1997. Embracing his role as patron of Child Bereavement UK, the heir to the British throne joined grieving children and young adults in Widnes, England on Wednesday for an event that included meetings with families, local staff, and volunteers.

“Sometimes the hardest thing about grief is finding the words for how you actually feel,” the royal said during the event. “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.”

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Child Bereavement UK supports both children who have experienced loss as well as families who have lost a child. Prince William called the charity’s support “crucial,” adding, “The mind gets focused on one thing, doesn’t it? It’s very difficult to do school and normal life.”

“The Prince is keen to shine a light on the important work the charity does day in, day out to support families at the most difficult time of their lives,” one attendee said, while another explained that “I think he understands how grief works.”

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Prince William has been patron of Child Bereavement UK since 2009. His visit to Widnes comes amid an ongoing feud with his brother, Prince Harry, whose biannual Invictus Games is set to begin on Saturday in Vancouver, Canada. Neither William nor his wife, Kate Middleton, will be in attendance.

“If Diana was here, they would be different because she wouldn’t stand for this nonsense, and she would have sorted it out long before now,” Diana’s former butler, Paul Burrell, told OK. “But, unfortunately, there’s nobody here that can sort it out.”