Prince William has shared one of the most important lessons he’s learned about grief in the 25 years he’s spent mourning the loss of his mother, Princess Diana.
Speaking at a solemn event to mark the opening of a memorial to the Manchester arena bombing of 2017, he urged the families and friends of the 22 people killed to take comfort in their memories.
“As someone who lives with his own grief, I also know that what often matters most to the bereaved is that those we have lost are not forgotten,” he told the crowd.
Prince William shared his advice on grief as he and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge attended the memorial.
(Image: Getty)“There is comfort in remembering. In acknowledging that, while taken horribly soon, they lived. They changed our lives. They were loved, and they are loved.
“It is why memorials such as the Glade of Light are so important. Why Catherine and I so wanted to be amongst you today.”
He and the Duchess of Cambridge attended the memorial together to honour the lives lost and connect with the hundreds of people wounded in the terror attack, physically or emotionally.
The incident in 2017 involved a suicide bomber detonating a blast at Manchester area as an Ariana Grande concert came to an end.
At the time the arena was packed with children, teens and parents, as well as plenty of adult concert-goers, all of whom were thrown into a terrified panic when the explosion went off.
Tragically, 22 people lost their lives in the attack, including children, and many more were injured, with survivors battling PTSD and other ailments to this day.
WATCH: The most touching moments from the One Love Manchester Benefit Concert. Story continues after video.
Catherine paid tribute to the lives lost by laying a wreath of flowers at the memorial and observing a moment’s silence as she stood before it with William.
The memorial space, known as the Glade of Light, was designed as a large garden area for remembrance, the Duchess of Cambridge telling locals that it “feels just right”.
“Simplicity was something we wanted to keep through the process. That was one of the things Her Royal Highness mentioned,” Andy Thompson, a landscaper who worked on the memorial, told People.
“She said it feels like it’s always been here. It just feels right … It was about the families and we wanted it to blend into this area.”
The duchess wore earrings that honoured the city of Manchester.
(Image: Getty)Catherine also used her jewellery to honour the city of Manchester, choosing a pair of gold bee earrings for the outing – the bee is the local symbol of Manchester.
The set was a bespoke creation from London-based Vanleles Diamonds, created from the brand’s trademark small hoops and specially designed bee charms for the occasion.
While the hoops usually retail for over $2,100, sets with charms attached can go for upwards of $6,550, making them a very costly tribute – but one the duchess was happy to pay for.
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