Prince William met with Rhian Mannings, whose husband took his own life days after the death of their one-year-old son, ITV News’ Tori Watson reports.
The Prince of Wales fought back tears as he discussed the impact of suicide on loved ones and the importance of providing support to those at risk, in a new film to mark World Mental Health Day.
The future King appeared visibly moved during a conversation with Rhian Mannings, 48, whose one-year-old son George died suddenly in 2012. Five days later, her husband Paul took his own life.
Prince William first met Rhian in 2017, and earlier this month, he travelled to her home in Cardiff, where they had a moving conversation about the impact of suicide.
He also met Rhian’s mother, Chris Jones, and children – Isaac, 16, and Holly, 17.
At the beginning of the film, Rhian explains: “It’s really difficult to explain how grief feels. Emptiness, physical pain, your head hurts, your limbs hurt, you ache.
“But when you lose somebody to suicide, it leaves so many questions unanswered.
“But I’m hoping by having increased awareness around what it is, but also the effects it has on those left behind. What causes people to walk out and never come home.
“Let’s stand together, let’s talk about it. Let’s get people in the public eye talking about it.
“We can help each other; this really doesn’t have to be what happens.”
Prince William asked her: “If you could say something, or wanted to say something to Paul, what would you have said?”
She replied: “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 think. I ask myself that every single day.
“He was absolutely devastated; he did keep blaming himself that weekend.
“But 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.”
As the Prince welled up, Rhian asked him, “Are you okay?”
He said: “I’m sorry. It’s just, it’s hard to ask these questions.”
The film also marks the launch of The Royal Foundation’s Suicide Prevention Network, which aims to transform suicide prevention across the UK.
Kensington Palace said: “Building on progress in the sector, the National Suicide Prevention Network will focus on tackling the root causes of suicide, ensuring accessible support and strengthening collaboration to achieve the greatest possible impact.”
It has received more than £1 million of funding from the Foundation and has the backing of over 20 organisations, including Rhian’s charity 2Wish.
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