Prince William appeared visibly moved and emotional as he spoke with the Welsh campaigner Rhian Mannings, whose husband committed suicide a few days after the sudden death of their young son. A video shown by Kensington Palace to mark World Mental Health Day shows the gentle understanding of the prince as Mannings talks of her grief and overwhelming guilt over what had happened to her husband.

Mannings who lost her husband in 2012 following the family tragedy has become a leading voice for bereaved families, founding 2Wish, which helps parents who lose a child or young adult. The charity will form part of a new National Suicide Prevention Network set up under the auspices of the Royal Foundation to totally revolutionise the suicide problem in the UK.

A Conversation Breaking Royal Norms

In a video filmed at her house in South Wales, William, 43, asked Mannings what she would tell her husband if she had the chance. Mannings broke down in tears. “I would just like to sit him down like this and say, ‘Why didn’t you come to me? Because he’s lost so much joy and we would have been OK.’ ” At this point it became plain William was filled with emotion and hesitated before answering. “Are you all right?” she said. “Yes,” nodded William slowly, “It’s a hard thing to ask these questions. The best way to stop suicides is to talk about it, talk about it at an early phase, talk about it to those you love, to those you trust, friends.”

The moment was rare public display of vulnerability by the elder royal and came as a refreshing breaking of a tradition which has required previous generations of monarchy to show emotional restraint.

A Bad Year For The Heir

William’s frankness comes however at a time when he is facing personal and public difficulty. In a recent interview with the actor Eugene Levy he called 2024 “the toughest year” of his life, both Catherine, Princess of Wales, and his father King Charles fighting against cancer. The prince has yet to deal with the consequences of a factured relationship with his brother Harry, who spurned royal duty in 2020.

But despite this matter William emphasised his desire to introduce a more open, modern monarchy and didn’t wish to see the institution “return to some of the things in the past” which affected his own and Harry’s upbringing.