Prince William has posed for gorgeous new photos with his family for British GQ as part of a cover interview about his tireless charity work for Heads Together.
The Duke of Cambridge, together with wife Catherine and brother Harry, has always been vocal and passionate about the topic of mental health. Recently the royals have been raising awareness for the cause and the charity they champion via a series of public appearances, campaigning to break down the stigma surrounding mental health and encouraging people to be more open about their struggles.
William was photographed with Catherine, George and Charlotte by Norman Jean Roy at Kensington Palace in April, and was interviewed by mental health campaigner Alastair Campbell, who “shares a common cause to tackle the taboo around mental health”.
In what GQ has labelled “the most candid interview he has ever given”, William spoke openly and emotionally about his mother Diana ahead of the 20th anniversary of her death.
Prince William and Harry at Diana’s funeral, September 1997
“I am in a better place about it than I have been for a long time, where I can talk about her more openly, talk about her more honestly, and I can remember her better, and publicly talk about her better,” he says.
“It is a different situation for most people who lose someone they love, it can be hidden away or they can choose if they want to share their story.
“It has taken me almost 20 years to get to that stage. I still find it difficult now because at the time it was so raw. And also it is not like most people’s grief, because everyone else knows about it, everyone knows the story, everyone knows her.”
He also, heartbreakingly, discusses his sadness over the fact that Catherine and their children never got to meet her.
“I would like to have had her advice. I would love her to have met Catherine and to have seen the children grow up. It makes me sad that she won’t, that they will never know her.”
On his children, William also says he wants George to have the most normal life possible.
“I want George to grow up in a real, living environment, I don’t want him growing up behind palace walls, he has to be out there. The media make it harder but I will fight for them to have a normal life.”
Wills goes on to hammer home the importance of sharing, or putting our heads together, in helping deal with mental illness.
“Smashing the taboo is our biggest aim. We cannot go anywhere much until that is done. People can’t access services till they feel less ashamed, so we must tackle the taboo, the stigma, for goodness sake, this is the 21st century,” he says.
“I’ve been really shocked how many people live in fear and in silence because of their mental illness. I just don’t understand it. I know I come across as quite reserved and shy, I don’t always have my emotions brewing, but behind closed doors I think about the issues, I get very passionate about things. I rely on people around me for opinions, and I am a great believer in communication on these issues.”
The full story will appear in the July issue of British GQ
