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PRINCE REVEALS TORMENT

Prince William reveals death of mum Princess Diana prompted him to speak out about mental health

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

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

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The dad of two 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

William is asked about his mum by competitor Rhian Burke, whose husband Paul took his own life five days after their one-year-old son George died following a seizure.

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.

 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
 The pop superstar speaks to the Duke of Cambridge via FaceTime
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The pop superstar speaks to the Duke of Cambridge via FaceTimeCredit: 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
 Prince Harry recently revealed he was 'close to a complete breakdown' in dealing with his grief
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Prince Harry recently revealed he was 'close to a complete breakdown' in dealing with his griefCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
 Grief . . . The Sun's front page yesterday
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Grief . . . The Sun's front page yesterday


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“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.

 Princess Diana with Prince William in Cardiff, 1991
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Princess Diana with Prince William in Cardiff, 1991Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
 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

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

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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