Prince William Shares His Grief

Eleven years after Diana's death, the prince goes public with his very private feelings-find out why

-Myrna Blyth, BettyConfidential.com

For the first time, Prince William has shared his feelings about losing his mother, Princess Diana. William was just fifteen and his brother Harry, 11, when Diana, then the most famous woman in the world, was killed in a tragic car accident in Paris.

William, now 26, has finally spoken about his grief. He said, "Initially there is a sense of disbelief that this could ever happen to you. Real grief often does not hit home until much later. For many it is a grief that is never entirely lost.... Life is altered as you know it, and not a day goes by without you thinking about the one thing you have lost...Never being able to say the word ‘Mummy' again in your life sounds like a small thing. However, for many, including me, it's now really just a word--hollow and evoking only memories."

William has always before refused to share his feelings. But he has become the Royal Patron of a charity that helps bereaved families. By speaking out, he hopes to bring attention to the organization and the work it does. Princess Diana helped launch the group that a friend of hers, a counselor, heads. William said, "What my mother recognized then--and what I understand now--is that losing a close family member is one of the hardest experiences that anyone can ever endure."

To read more about one of the most devastating deaths in history, click here.