On Thursday night, Prince William paid a moving tribute to his late mother, Princess Diana, at the 21st anniversary charity dinner for Child Bereavement UK.
“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,” the 33-year-old said. “But my mother was determined to help those in need and she would have been immensely proud – as I am – of all that Child Bereavement UK has achieved these last 21 years.”
Diana helped launched Child Bereavement UK back in 1994, just three years before she died in a tragic car accident. The charity is now run by Julia Samuel, the godmother of Prince George and one of the late Princess’ closest friends. It is dedicated to helping children deal with the loss of a parent and children who are terminally ill.
The Duke of Cambridge was just 15 years old when his mother passed away in 1997. Though William rarely speaks about Diana publicly, he graciously honoured her and her work at the charity event.
Watch the video above to hear Prince William’s touching tribute.
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Princess Diana's Style
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With Prince Charles at Craigowan Lodge on the Balmoral Estate. (Tim Graham/Getty photo)
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Posing for pictures on her wedding day. (Lichfield/Getty photo)
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More wedding pictures! (AP photos)
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At a banquet at the Guildhall in London. (Anwar Hussein/WireImage photos)
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At the premiere of "A View to a Kill" in London. (Tom Wargacki/WireImage photos)
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Wearing a Victor Edelstein gown to a White House State Dinner in Washington, DC. (Pool/Tim Graham Picture Library/Getty photos)
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Leaving Cirencester Hospital in England after Prince Charles broke his arm during a polo match. (AP photo)
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At Indian Castle Beach. (Getty photo)
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At the Serpentine Gallery in London, wearing a dress by Christina Stambolian. (Jayne Fincher/Getty photos)
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Sitting with Prince Harry during V-J Day celebrations in London. (AP photos)
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Meeting with Argentinian president Carlos Menem in Buenos Aires. (AP photos)
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Arriving at a cancer research benefit in Washington, DC. (AP photos)
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Walking through the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York to attend the Costume Institute Gala. (AP photos)
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On a British Red Cross mission to highlight the evil of land mines in Luanda. (Getty photo)
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Meeting with Nelson Mandela to discuss the threat of AIDS in South Africa. (AP photos)
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At a gala benefit for victims of landmines at the National Museum of Women in the Arts in Washington, DC. (AP photos)
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Meeting with Mother Teresa in New York. (AP photos)
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Leaving Christie's auction house in New York after selling some of her dresses, the proceeds of which went toward AIDS and cancer charities. (AP photos)
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Arriving at Sarajevo airport on a tour to publicize the international problems of land mines. (AP photos)
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Diana Princess of Wales watches Prince Charles playing polo on May 30, 1982 at the Guards Club, Smiths Lawn, Windsor. Diana was pregnant at the time with Prince William. (Photo by David Levenson/Getty Images)
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Princess Diana pregnant with Prince William (Photo by Bob Thomas/Popperfoto/Getty Images)
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A very pregnant Diana, Princess of Wales with Prince Charles, Prince of Wales attend a polo event at Windsor Great Park in June, 1982 in Windsor, England. (Photo by Anwar Hussein/Getty Images)
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Diana, Princess of Wales, seven months pregnant in April 1984 in Scilly Isles, United Kingdom. (Photo by Anwar Hussein/Getty Images)
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Diana, Princess of Wales opens a community centre in Deptford, London - her last official engagement before the birth of Prince William, 18th May 1982. (Photo by Georges De Keerle/Getty Images)
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A pregnant Princess of Wales visits the Isles of Scilly, April 1982. She is wearing a maternity dress by Catherine Walker. (Photo by Terry Fincher/Princess Diana Archive/Getty Images)
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rince Charles, Prince of Wales and Diana, Princess of Wales leave St Mary's Hospital with newborn baby Prince William on June 22, 1982 in London, England. (Photo by Anwar Hussein/Getty Images)
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Princess Diana wearing a Catherine Walker materinity dress during a visit to St mary's on the Isles of Scilly, April 1982. (Photo by Terry Fincher/Getty Images)
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Princess Diana, pregnant with Prince William, on a visit to the area meeting local people (Photo by Bob Thomas/Popperfoto/Getty Images)
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Diana, Princess Of Wales, With Prince Philip Standing On The Balcony Of Buckingham Palace With Prince Charles And Queen Elizabeth Ll To Watch Trooping The Colour. The Princess Is Pregnant, Expecting Her First Baby (Photo by Tim Graham/Getty Images)
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Prince Charles, Prince of Wales and Diana, Princess of Wales together after a game of polo at Windsor, Diana is pregnant expecting her second baby (Photo by Tim Graham/Getty Images)
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Diana wears David Sassoon red maternity dress at Barbican Centre in March 1982. (Photo by Anwar Hussein/WireImage)
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Princess Diana , Pregnant, At The Grand National Races In Aintree, Liverpool. (Photo by Tim Graham/Getty Images)
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The Princess of Wales visits Chinatown in Liverpool, April 1982. She is pregnant with Prince William, and wearing a pink wool maternity coat by Bellville Sassoon and a hat by John Boyd. (Photo by Jayne Fincher/Princess Diana Archive/Getty Images)