In a deeply emotional new video released on World Mental Health Day, Prince William shares a heart-wrenching conversation with Rhian Manning, a widow who lost her husband, Paul, to suicide in 2012, just days after their one-year-old son, George, passed away. The eight-minute video, filmed in Rhian’s kitchen, captures the raw and moving exchange between the Prince of Wales and Rhian, who has since founded a charity supporting families who have experienced the loss of a child.
As they share tea and Welsh cakes, the conversation turns to Rhian’s surviving children, Holly and Isaac. William gently asks what she would say to her late husband. Through tears, Rhian expresses her grief, saying, “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 okay.” As she speaks, the Prince visibly chokes up, looking away and rubbing his chin, his eyes reddening. When Rhian asks if he is okay, he touches her hand and replies, “I’m sorry. It’s just… it’s hard to ask these questions that I…”
Rhian, with understanding, responds, “It’s fine… you’ve got children,” adding, “It’s hard… and you’ve experienced loss yourself.” Prince William, who has long championed mental health awareness, responds thoughtfully, “The best way to prevent suicide is to talk about it. Talk about it early, talk about it with your loved ones, those you trust, your friends. So thank you for talking about it.”
The video is part of a larger initiative supported by the Royal Foundation, which has donated around $1.3 million to establish the National Suicide Prevention Network. This network, which brings together key charities from across the U.K., aims to better understand suicide prevention and offer support for those affected. Prince William’s involvement in mental health advocacy is deeply personal, stemming from his experiences as an air ambulance pilot and his ongoing commitment to supporting men’s mental health and suicide prevention.
In addition to his work with the National Suicide Prevention Network, the Prince of Wales has shown his support for several mental health charities, including the Jac Lewis Foundation and James’ Place, both of which focus on providing assistance to men in crisis. William also reflected on the enduring pain of families affected by suicide, saying, “From the families I’ve spoken to who have had to endure suicide, there’s a lot of unanswered questions that live with you forever, really, don’t they?”
Through this powerful conversation and his continued efforts, Prince William is shining a light on the importance of mental health discussions, breaking down the stigma surrounding suicide, and offering hope to those who have experienced unimaginable loss.
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