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THIS is the touching moment Prince William comforts a mum-of-three whose baby boy died just days before her husband plunged to his death.

The Royal has followed in brother Harry’s footsteps by revealing it was their mother’s death that prompted him to talk about mental health issues.

 Prince William has comforted a mum-of-three whose baby boy died just days before her husband plunged to his death
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Prince William has comforted a mum-of-three whose baby boy died just days before her husband plunged to his deathCredit: BBC
 The future king bonded with Rhian Burke over their shared experiences of grief and loss
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The future king bonded with Rhian Burke over their shared experiences of grief and lossCredit: BBC
 Rhian Burke's husband Paul, pictured, took his own life five days after their one-year-old son George, also pictured, died following a seizure
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Rhian Burke's husband Paul, pictured, took his own life five days after their one-year-old son George, also pictured, died following a seizureCredit: Wales News Service
 Paul pictured here with his son George
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Paul pictured here with his son GeorgeCredit: Wales News Service

The Duke of Cambridge, 34, discussed his feelings after Princess Diana was killed in a 1997 car crash for a BBC1 documentary.

In the show the future king bonded with Rhian Burke over their shared experiences of grief and loss.

Mum-of-three Rhian lost her baby boy George in 2012 after he contracted pneumonia and a form of swine flu.

He grief stricken husband Paul fell to his death from a motorway bridge days later.

Dad-of-two William told Rhian, 39, from Miskin, Wales, that her surviving children would be “absolutely fine” with “a mum like her”.

She asked him: “When your mum passed away you were a bit older than my children.

"I worry about them growing up. They’ll be OK won’t they?”

Wills replied: “They’ll be absolutely fine. With a mum like you they’ll be absolutely fine.”

 Rhian said she worries about her other children growing up after the death of her husband Paul and son George, both pictured
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Rhian said she worries about her other children growing up after the death of her husband Paul and son George, both picturedCredit: Wales News Service
 Rhian Burke pictured with her one-year-old son George and husband Paul who died just five days apart
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Rhian Burke pictured with her one-year-old son George and husband Paul who died just five days apartCredit: Wales News Service
 Dad-of-two William told Rhian her surviving children would be “absolutely fine”
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Dad-of-two William told Rhian her surviving children would be “absolutely fine”Credit: BBC

William said: “I have my reasons for getting involved with mental health with what happened with my mum when I was younger. I still feel the shock within me.”

His comments come after Harry, 32, said he found himself in a state of “total chaos” and close to a “complete breakdown” in dealing with the grief.

The royal pair appear in show Mind Over Marathon, in which ten unlikely runners affected by mental health issues train for this Sunday’s London Marathon.

Princess Diana with sons Princes Harry and William in 1995
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Princess Diana with sons Princes Harry and William in 1995Credit: Camera Press
Earl Spencer, Princes William, Harry and Charles at Princess Diana's funeral in 1997
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Earl Spencer, Princes William, Harry and Charles at Princess Diana's funeral in 1997Credit: Reuters
Prince William talks to Lady Gaga about mental health in the Beeb documentary
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Prince William talks to Lady Gaga about mental health in the Beeb documentaryCredit: PA:Press Association
 Prince William has followed in brother Prince Harry's footsteps in speaking out about mental health
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Prince William has followed in brother Prince Harry's footsteps in speaking out about mental healthCredit: Getty Images - WireImage


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Dad-of-two William told Rhian: “Like you said, the shock is the biggest thing.

"I still feel 20 years later with my mother . . .   I still feel the shock within me.

“You think shock can’t last that long but it does. You never get over it.

“It’s such an unbelievably big moment in your life.

"It never leaves you, you just learn to deal with it.

"You’ll provide the blanket of security and understanding that they’ll need. You doing this is a hugely positive step.”

Princess Diana with Princes William and Harry in Majorca, 1987
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 Princess Diana with Princes William and Harry in Majorca, 1987Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
Harry launching mental health campaign Heads Together with brother Prince William and Kate Middleton
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Harry launching mental health campaign Heads Together with brother Prince William and Kate MiddletonCredit: AP:Associated Press

He also said society is on the cusp of a breakthrough in the understanding of mental health.

The Duke added: “We need to make mental health normal.

“Working with the air ambulance at the moment I’ve seen a lot of sad situations involving suicide and self-harm.

“It’s a tragedy we’re not talking about it. The more we can get people talking about mental health the better as the silence is killing people.”

William’s wife Kate also features in the two-part documentary.

  • Mind Over Marathon airs tomorrow night on BBC1 at 9pm.
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