Prince William shared a sweet moment with a teen who’s dealing with the death of a loved one.
During a recent visit to Keech Hospice Care in Luton, England, the Duke of Cambridge gave some advice to 14-year-old Ben Hines, who lost his mother, Alexandra, to cancer last year. William spoke to the teen about grief, drawing from his own experience with the death of his mother, Princess Diana.
“Time makes it easier. I know how you feel, I still miss my mother every day and it’s 20 years after she died,” William told Ben and his family, according to the Press Association. “The important thing is to talk about it as a family, it’s OK to feel sad, it’s OK for you to miss her.”
The prince’s wife, Duchess of Cambridge Kate Middleton, was also present for the visit to Keech Hospice Care. The pair toured the facility to learn more about it, particularly the bereavement support and art therapy services, the organization’s website noted. They also helped the facility celebrate its 25th anniversary.
Hines, who has autism, explained to William during the visit that he’s missed his mother since she died last June and has had difficulty dealing with loss, The London Times reported.
In addition to urging the teen and his family to communicate, William also acknowledged that sometimes it’s difficult to air out emotions.
“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,” he said, later asking the group to be open with their feelings ― something Ben’s brother Thomas said he’d promise to do.
The family was moved by the royal couple’s kindness during the interaction.
“Himself and Kate were incredibly caring and interested in what we had to say,” Gary Hines, Ben’s father, told BBC Radio 5 Live.
He added, “They put us at ease straight away and were genuinely interested and that made the difference.”