Prince William, Duchess Catherine and Prince Harry have come together for an honest conversation in a video for their Heads Together campaign.
The clip was created for the campaign’s “#OktoSay” film series, in which people from all walks of life discuss their own mental health challenges. The organisation, spearheaded by the golden royal trio, aims to break down the stigma around mental health.
The footage, filmed on the grounds of Kensington Palace, sees William and Harry speak candidly about the way in which they coped with their mother’s death.
“Both of us have always been open to each other, but we’ve never really talked about it,” Harry said in the clip. “We’ve never really talked about losing a mum at such a young age.”
He added: “When you speak to other people’s families and little kids, you think ‘Wow I don’t want them to have to go through the same things’. You want to with a little bit of experience, you want to help as much as you can and try [to] empower them to have that conversation. You want it to be brave for themselves to talk about it at a young age rather than bottling it up for far too long.”
WATCH: The royal trio bravely open up about their own mental health challenges. Post continues…
Wills was just 15 and his brother Prince Harry only 12, when their mother, Princess Diana, was killed in a car crash in Paris on 31 August 1997. She was just 36 years old.
William went on to explain that he and his brother became “uniquely bonded” in the wake of their mother’s tragic passing.
“We have been brought closer because of the circumstances as well, that’s the thing. You know you are uniquely bonded because of what we have been through. But you know, even Harry and I over the years have not talked enough about our mother,” William said.
Prince Harry added: “Never enough.”
William and Harry are only now starting to speak publicly about the loss of their mother, almost 20 years since her death.
Harry says he didn’t deal with Diana’s death until his late twenties.
Speaking to her own mental health challenges, Kate drew on her experiences as a new mother.
“Nothing can really prepare you for that. I remember the first few days with little George, you have no idea, really, what you’re doing,” she confessed. “No matter how many books you read. Nothing can prepare you for it.”
“There’s no rule book. There’s no training that teaches you how to do it. You just learn from previous generations and hope that you can translate it into what, you know, what you want to do,” William added. “When you have children it really does put your own emotions and your own life into perspective.”
Kate and William share two children – George, three, and Princess Charlotte, nearly-two.
Both Kate and Wills said they weren’t prepared for the arrival of their first child, George.
Kate has previously explained that motherhood can be isolating.
The video follows Kate and Wills appearance on BBC Radio One on Friday.
The visit, designed to surprise DJ Adele Roberts who is running the London Marathon for the royals’ Heads Together initiative on Sunday, provided a rare glimpse into the much-loved couple’s life behind palace doors.
The duo, who wed in a highly-anticipated ceremony in 2011, discussed their fondness for a takeaway curry, “comfy clothes” and a spot of telly once the “kiddies” are tucked away in bed.
They also revealed what they gave the Queen for her 91st birthday, revealing that a homemade gift always does the trick.
“The great grandchildren can make things. It doesn’t matter what it looks like, it always goes down well,” William explained.
He added: “George does arts and crafts. He’s very good.”
WATCH: The royals are relaxed and candid as they appear on BBC Radio One.
