Breaking News: Prince William Makes Poignant Visit to Bereavement Charity with Close Links to His Mother Princess Diana….. Check In

The Prince of Wales visited Child Bereavement UK’s center in Widnes, England on Feb. 5

Prince William is honoring a child bereavement charity which had close links to his late mother, Princess Diana.

William, 42, visited a Child Bereavement UK center in Widnes, England, on Feb. 5. The prince, who succeeded Diana as the organization’s patron in 2009, spent about an hour meeting with families and children supported by the charity, as well as volunteers, long-standing supporters, and local staff who provide its bereavement support services.

William also chatted to a group of young people who shared their experiences of how the charity has supported them.

When Diana died in 1997, the prince was just 15. Julia Samuel, the charity’s founding patron, was a great friend of the princess’ and her links with the royal family continue today as she is also one of Prince George‘s godparents

When William and his wife Princess Kate, 43, visited the charity’s London-based center in 2017, Samuel told PEOPLE, “Bereavement — and particularly child death, which is so unbearable to think about — is something William is shining a light on. He is helping us raise awareness in a way that no one else can do.”

That’s because people can see how authentic, and heartfelt, he is and he’s experienced it. People can pick up authenticity within seconds.”

She added that the couple “put people at their ease by being so warm and so open and cracking jokes.”

“You can see the terror in peoples’ eyes as they walk in, and you can see that fall away within a few minutes as people realize they are normal. That is always kind of touching to see,” she said.