‘It Makes Me Sad That My Kids Will Never Know Her’ – Prince William Opens Up On His Mother’s Death As He Covers GQ
Follow @eventlabgh < 20 years after Princess Diana died in a car crash, her first son, Prince William is on...
20 years after Princess Diana died in a car crash, her first son, Prince William is on the cover of British GQ opening up about how he has dealt with her death.
The royal was photographed by Norman Jean Roy for the July issue of the magazine and he sat down with Alastair Campbell for an honest interview covering mental health, family and of course his mother’s death.
On mental health: “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.
“I cannot understand how families, even behind closed doors, still find it so hard to talk about it. I am shocked we are so worried about saying anything about the true feelings we have. Because mental illness is inside our heads, invisible, it means others tread so carefully, and people don’t know what to say, whereas if you have a broken leg in plaster, everyone knows what to say.”
On Diana’s death: “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. 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.
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.”
On missing 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 family: “I could not do my job without the stability of the family. Stability at home is so important to me. I want to bring up my children in a happy, stable, secure world and that is so important to both of us as parents.
“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.”
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