Prince William fought back tears as he shared an emotional dialogue in a heartbreaking new film aimed at tackling suicide across Britain.
The movie has been released on World Mental Health Day as part of a new initiative, The Royal Foundation’s National Suicide Prevention Network.
In the film, the Prince of Wales met with Rhian Mannings MBE at her Cardiff home for a deeply personal conversation about suicide.
The pair first met in 2017, where Mrs Mannings shared the devastating experience of losing both her son and husband.
The mother of two was faced heartbreak in 2012 when her baby, George, died suddenly from an undetected illness at just one year old.
Tragedy struck again five days later when her husband Paul took his own life.
Following the life changing events, Mrs Mannings found strength in helping others avoid the same devastating experience through her charity 2wish – for which she was awarded an MBE in 2019.
William’s new film documents their second meeting, where both spoke candidly over tea and cake the campaigner’s mother had prepared for him.
Prince William met with Rhian Mannings MBE for an emotional discussion about suicide prevention
|
KENSINGTON PALACE
Mrs Mannings and William began their discussion as she made the tea, revealing that her two children are “flourishing” – including that her son now plays rugby in the same position as his late father.
As the pair sat down, they discussed the devastating impact of George and Paul’s deaths and what the widow might say to her husband if she could speak to him today.
“There was only thing I’d say to him if I had the time with him, which would be: ‘why didn’t you speak to me?’ I ask myself that every single day,” she said.
“I would just like to sit him down, like this, and say ‘why didn’t you come to me?’ Because you’ve missed out on just so much joy and we would have been okay.
The Prince of Wales become emotional during the dialogue about Mrs Mannings tragic loss
|
KENSINGTON PALACE
“That’s the hardest thing… we would have been okay,” the mother of two continued.
Her comment evidently moved William, who looked away and cupped his mouth.
The Prince appeared to hold back tears, his eyes reddened, before turning back to Mrs Mannings.
William, touching Mrs Mannings hand, as he admitted it was hard to ask her questions of that nature.
She empathised, telling the future King: “You’ve experienced loss yourself.”
Their conversion highlights the key themes of the The Royal Foundation’s new project.
Mrs Mannings charity, 2wish, supports bereaved families who have lost children or young adults up to age 25.
It will be included in the new network of organisations helping deliver lasting change in how suicide is understood and prevented across the four nations of the United Kingdom.
The film forms part of a new project from the future King and Royal Foundation to address suicide in the UK
|
KENSINGTON PALACE
The Royal Foundation has committed over £1million to the new initiative to provide accessible support and foster greater collaboration, innovation and action on suicide.
Prince William said of the project: “The incredible partners who form this network reach those at risk of, or affected by, suicide with their inspirational work.
“I have had the privilege of meeting all of the founding partners to see firsthand their powerful community-based efforts to offer hope and support to those who need it most.
“Their efforts reaffirm the urgent mission of the National Suicide Prevention Network: to build a bold, unified national response to the heartbreaking, and preventable, tragedy of suicide,” he said.
The four leading charities, across the four nations, are: James’s Place in England, Mikeysline in Scotland, the Jac Lewis Foundation in Wales and Pips Suicide Prevention Ireland in Northern Ireland.
Anyone who is in emotional distress, struggling to cope or at risk of suicide can call the Samaritans anonymously for free from a UK phone on 116 123 or go to samaritans.org.